Willie Jean Barnes' Obituary
Celebration of the Life of Willie Jean BarnesSunrise: June 1, 1926 Sunset: July 14, 2014 “A Full, Complete and Perfect Life” Homegoing ServicesMonday, July 21, 2014 -10:00 AM – Skylawn Memorial Park Highway 92 and Skyline Blvd. San Mateo, CA. 94402Willie Jean Barnes, (nee Smith) was born in St. Louis, MO. on June 1, 1926. She is survived by her loving husband of over 62 years, Aaron Oliver Barnes, Sr. and her six adored children, Cynthia (Nick) Slater, Waffiyah (Waajid) Ansari-Luqman, Aaron Barnes, Jr., Nommo Diop (Marnitha), Allen Barnes, and Bessie Barnes; her precious grandchildren: Bahiyyudin Ansari, Sean Slater, Ayinde Luqman, Zachary Slater, Nathan Barnes, Isoke Luqman, Lumumba and Kibwe Diop; her two great-grandchildren: Adisa Luqman and Aaron Ansari; her beloved nieces and nephews: Nancy Johnson and Noel, Leon, Annamarie, Raquel and Victoria Smith. She is preceded in death by her parents, Willie Anthony Smith and Serena Aaron Smith, her sister Marion Sams and her brother Leon Smith, Sr. She leaves many true friends and close relatives who knew and loved her dearly.Mama spent most of her early life in Meridian, Mississippi where her parents owned their home. She attended Jackson State University and eventually San Francisco State University (majoring in Early Childhood Education); she was a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. In the late 1940’s, Mama migrated to San Francisco, CA. after her brother was discharged from the Navy at Treasure Island. She met her husband Aaron and married him in 1952 in San Francisco, CA. Our beloved mother chose San Francisco as her home after living in the Jim Crow South proved intolerable. Our “Mama Jean” was a faithful, loyal member of the Western Region of the Meridianites, Inc. and a trusted, adored member of Pilgrim Community Church (United Church of Christ) for over 50 years. She owned and successfully operated Barnes Family Day Care in SF’s Ingleside neighborhood for over 15 years. She was an early supporter of the Ocean View Merced Heights Ingleside Neighborhood Assn., and a member of SF’s African American Library and Museum, Museum of the African Diaspora, and the Friends of the SF Public Library.Words cannot adequately express the sorrow, the profound loss her family and many dear friends feel at her passing. Jean Barnes was a dutiful wife, mother, grandmother, friend, educator, colleague, church and club member, PTA and Girl Scout leader; “a virtuous woman” who deeply believed in God, in her family, her many friends, her community and the world. With her husband, she travelled by air and cruise ship many times to West Africa, to the Caribbean, to Asia, Europe and Central America. She rejoiced in the accomplishments and successes of her children and grandchildren, and gave every one of them her unconditional love, attention and support. Our mother was truly a gracious and noble person, who was organized, thoughtful, courageous and forgiving. We thank God that she was in our life as long as the Almighty allowed her to be and we will carry the memory of her in our hearts and minds forever.In lieu of flowers, the Barnes family requests donations to the Nat’l Council of Meridianites/JSC Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 531406, Henderson, NV 89053-1406, in the memory of Mrs. Willie Jean Barnes.
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