ORA BARNES

Ora Lee Washington Barnes was born to the late Samuel and Elizabeth Ellzey Washington on November 24, 1937, in Tylertown, Mississippi. She was affectionately called “Goo” by many of her siblings, family members and friends. Ora Lee departed this life on July 23, 2022, at Charlton Methodist Hospital in Dallas, Texas.

She joined St. Chapel Missionary Baptist Church at an early age and attended faithfully. After completing high school at Ginn Town High School in Tylertown, Mississippi, she met the love of her life, Caldwell Barnes. Ora and Caldwell were united in holy matrimony on September 27, 1956. They moved to Gary, Indiana and started a family. Four children were born to their union.

In Gary, Ora united with and faithfully attended New Hope Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Clarence Lobdell. She brought her children up in both church and Sunday school.

In 1971, Caldwell and Ora returned to Mississippi with their four (4) children and reunited with St. Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. Ora sang in the choir and became the church secretary. She also worked at Eva Gordon Elementary School. She retired from Eva Gordon Elementary School in the late 1990’s. Ora served as St. Chapel Church secretary for many decades until her health began to decline.

In her middle-aged years, Ora and Caldwell raised their grandson, Desmond Patterson. She was a loving wife, mother, homemaker, grandmother, great grandmother, great great grandmother, and aunt. She was extremely proud of her crew and her face beamed and her voice sang when she spoke about them. After her beloved Caldwell passed in 1995, she was often asked why she did not remarry. Her reply was, “because the first time a new husband calls one of my grandchildren bad, I’ll pack his stuff and put him flat out.”

Ora was preceded in death by her parents Samuel and Elizabeth Washington, her husband, Caldwell Barnes, (12) siblings: Sam Jr, J.W. George, James, William, Bernice, Edrena, Alma, Gloria, Annie Rose, Nadean and Nellie Mae. She is also preceded in death by a daughter-in-law: Geneva (Don) Barnes, a great granddaughter (Arianna Ellis) and numerous sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

She leaves to cherish fond memories four children: Debra (Jerry) Hill of Spring, Texas, Don Barnes of Grand Prairie, Texas, Anthony (Tonya) Barnes of Hephzibah, Georgia, and Patricia (Johnny) Wells of Grand Prairie, Texas. She leaves behind thirteen (13) grandchildren, thirty-seven (37) great grandchildren and three (3) great great grandchildren. She also leaves fond memories to cherish to one sister, Elizabeth Washington Smith of McComb, Mississippi. In addition, she leaves two sisters-in-law: Annie Washington of Osyka, Mississippi and Emma Lee Washington of Houma, Louisiana, and a host of special nephews, nieces, other relatives, and friends.