Carolyn G. Barnes

Carolyn was the Owner and Operator of Godwin Stitchery and Frame Shoppe. The business was started in Five Points West and moved to Cahaba Heights. She enjoyed her framing, painting, and sewing (Cross Stitch) with vendors, friends, and customers. She was a talented, award-winning portrait oil painter in the Alabama-Mississippi Photographers Association. She enjoyed ceramics, Tole painting, hand embroidery (cross stitch), reading, and gardening. Through crafting, she made lifelong friends with Jewel, Dixie, Ann, and many others. She enjoyed Alabama Football games and tailgating with friends and family. She also cherished annual beach trips as her children grew up with Aunt “Lo Lo”, and her family.

She attended Fairfield Highlands Baptist Church and enjoyed many friends, Addie Lee, Jane Roton, and beloved teacher Jean Jones, and Pastor; Bro. Buck. After retirement and moving to Gardendale, she called Gardendale Mt. Vernon U.M.C. her church home. She attended and loved her “Seekers” Sunday School Class. She started a Tuesday Morning Bible Study Group. She enjoyed her teachers Sue Jarvis, Billie Sue Hulsey, and all her dear church friends: Bunny Cowart, Carolyn Moore, Betty Malone, Dee Edwards, Martha Hubbard, Joan Reynold, and many, many, more. They traveled together, played cards together, and supported each other. She recently moved her membership to GracePoint UMC.

She enjoyed and cherished her family, and was extremely proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She loved her children and always tried to make the best decisions possible, even when the road was hard. She constantly instilled the need for God in your life and a strong work ethic.

Carolyn joined the love of her life, Robert C. Barnes; her parents, Effie Inez Bailey Hipp, and Lloyd Leon Lowe; her brothers, Wayne Lowe and Ray Lowe; her aunt, Lois Virginia Bailey; her sister-in-law, Carolyn "Sissy" O'Connell; and a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins from both the Bailey and Caldwell families in Heaven. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Tiese and Ray Stroup, Dee and Ted Seabury, Jimann Godwin Edmonds, and James “Jimbo” Edward and Tammy Godwin; her grandchildren and their spouses, Stephanie and Michael Bullock, Courtney and Devin Beeson, Ashley Edmonds, Bailey and Kourtnei Seabury, Caroline Edmonds, Wydner and Haleigh Edmonds, Anna Virginia Seabury, and Sway Godwin; her great-grandchildren, Tamera and Taylor Crawford, Breanna Beeson, Raylee Beeson, Riggs Fulmer, Lane Bullock, Gabbie Bullock, Quinn Seabury, Alaina Shepard, and Karlie Shepard; her great great-grandchildren, Aylah Beeson, Paisley Beeson; and her sister-in-law Darlene Watkins.

After taking care of her husband Robert Barnes, she moved into Covenant Place and Covenant Woods where she made wonderful friends with Linda and Beth. She enjoyed playing games and causing mischief with her friend Linda. Covenant Place and Covenant Woods staff and friends made her last year comfortable and fun. She continued her independence and strong-willed determination until the end.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Ridout's Gardendale Chapel, 2029 Decatur Highway, Gardendale, AL 35071. Following the visitation will be a graveside service at 12:00 PM at Oakland Cemetery, 1140 Warrior Road, Birmingham, AL 35213.