Mary Elizabeth Barnes

She was born to Lonnie Lester and Reba Pauline Brown Webb in Chalka, Georgia on April 12, 1920, and moved to Ocoee, Florida in 1926.

She was also known as Liz, Kitty, Betty, Mama, and Granny Barnes. No matter which name you call her, what word or attribute pops into your head to describe her? Loving, stern, strong-willed, independent, gardener, S.S. teacher, faithful church member and tither, good cook, loved to eat, care-giver, selfless-always giving to others….

She was raised by loving Christian parents in a simple and poor life. She quit school in the 8th grade to help provide for her younger siblings after her dad had been severely injured in an automobile accident. She babysat and did housekeeping to earn money for the family, and later, when she was old enough, started packing fruit in a fruit processing plant in Winter Garden, Florida where she met the late Leland Isaac Barnes – and, married him on Dec. 24, 1940. They moved to Apopka, Florida in 1942 and lived with her parents while Leland served in the USA Corps during WWII. Sarah Alice was born on April 7, 1944, and after a fire killed her half-sister’s family, they took in the surviving 3-year old child, Mary Christine Marsh, and raised her until she married. Orrin Leland was born on Oct.9, 1953. She also helped raise her handicapped grandson, Jerry, until her age and health would not permit. She lived on McCormick Road until 1997 when S.R. 429 was built and took her property. She then moved into the city limits of Apopka where she remained. She worked at Fern City Sundries and Shephard’s Drug Store, both in Apopka; Tibbals Drug Store, Winter Garden; and, at Deep South Processing Plant, Orlando. In 2005, she was honored by the City of Apopka as Grandmother of the year. We were grateful to see her receive this recognition for her many years of care-giving and service to others. She found joy in caring for others and loved sharing the fruit of her labor from her vegetable garden and also her beautiful flowers with family and friends. She cut her own grass until she was 90 and only quit because her family and neighbors worried about her getting hurt. Even when her health began to decline and I hired some wonderful caregivers a year and a half ago to help clean and cook for her, she would tell them to just sit and relax and she could take care of herself.

This is just a small sampling of my mom’s fruitful life of 94 years. Working hard was second nature to her. She did not know how to just sit and relax. Her hands were always busy, whether gardening, cooking or crocheting. She lived a simple but rewarding life and didn’t need a lot of “stuff” to make her happy. Her family brought her much joy, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren, and she would gladly show you photos at any time.

No matter how you remember her, I’m sure a smile comes to your face when you think of how she touched your life in some small way. I’m proud to be her daughter and so thankful to have been raised in a Christian home with loving and supportive parents. She went without a lot of material things to assure that Orrin and I received a good education. She provided funds for piano lessons for me and I am still reaping the benefits of those many arduous years of practice by using my talent as a pianist in my church in Norcross, Georgia.

Now that my mom has reached her heavenly home, maybe she can finally rest after 94 years. However, I like to think she’s already busy looking for someone to care for and helping to tend Heaven’s beautiful gardens.

Proud daughter,

Sarah Alice Barnes Burgess

Mary Elizabeth was a charter member of Paradise Heights Baptist Church, now named McCormick Road Baptist Church, where she remains a member.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband & parents; brothers, Lonnie Lester Webb, Jr. and James Dallas (J.D.) Webb; and, half-sisters Mamie Webb Marsh and Waudie Webb Rohn.

She is survived by her children, Sarah Alice Barnes Burgess, Orrin Leland Barnes and as guardian of Mary Christine Marsh Fryer; her siblings, Grace Webb Sikes (Bill), William Wesley Webb (Jackie); grandchildren, Mendy Lynn Burgess Lopez, Leland Jerome (Jerry) Barnes, Mary Frances Barnes Swearingen, Alaina Marie Burgess Morris and Kenneth David Barnes; and, great grandchildren, Briana Nicole Swearingen, Ernest Wesley Swearingen, IV and Regan Amelia Lopez.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Woodlawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home in Gotha, Florida.

Services will be held there this Wednesday, January 21st, 2015 with a Visitation beginning at 11:00am and a Funeral service at 12:00pm; burial to follow. Condolences may be offered at www.woodlawnfuneralhomegotha.com

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

McCormick Road Baptist Church, 2100 W. McCormick Road, Apopka, Florida 32703

OR,

Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC), 4900 Lewis Road, Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083