Virginia Barnes

Virginia was born on February 12, 1929, in Monroe, North Carolina, the second child of Jesse James Lawson and Mattie Bivens Lawson, now deceased, and grew up alongside her brother, Jesse “Jack” Lawson, deceased. She graduated from Winchester Avenue High School. She married Robert Barnes, now decreased. Virginia worked for many years as a housekeeper and following integration she was the second black person to be hired at the Johnston Textile Mill in Monroe. “Snook” was a long-time member of Langford Chapel Church and resident of Quality Hill in Monroe. In 2010, she moved to Washington, DC to live with her niece, “Jean”, where she resided until her death.

She will be missed by her nieces, Gloria (Jean) Lawson Rogers of Washington, DC, and Priscilla Coffey Clarke (Allen) of Charlotte, NC, nephews Kenneth Evan Lawson (Cheryl) of Union, New Jersey, Evan Leroy Rogers of Washington, DC, and Aiden Clarke of Charlotte, grandnieces Naiya and Nia Patterson of Charlotte, cousins Christine Arrington of Mrytle Beach, SC, Sandra Harkness and Dorothy Wright of Monroe, and many other relatives and dear friends. She was predeceased by her niece Barbara Lawson Patterson and nephew Olah Talib Patterson.

There is much appreciation to all the family and friends that visited “Snook”, talked with her on the phone and sent flowers and cards during her brief illness. She expressed great joy that people reached out to her with love and affection. A graveside memorial will be scheduled at a later date in Monroe, NC.