Linda Denise Barrentine

The world was diminished today. The bright, Christian

light of Linda Denise Barrentine was extinguished

today after a lengthy struggle with cancer. She died peacefully

with her husband of 39 years, William (Bill) Melton Barrentine, Jr.

by her side during her final moments.

Denise came from a career military family. She spent most

of her early years at various military bases in Germany. She and her

family returned to the United States during her latter teen years

and moved to Starkville, Mississippi. Her father,

Colonel Dennis L. Forbes, was stationed there as the R.O.T.C. Commandant.

She attended high school at Starkville Academy. She then attended

Mississippi State University and graduated with high honors taking

a Bachelor of Science degree in the field of Computer Science.

She was immediately hired, upon graduation, by Mississippi State

University into their programming department. Denise cared for

her infirm mother, Eva, for the last fifteen years, up until today,

at her home in Germantown, Tennessee.

She and her husband William resided in Starkville, MS, Jackson, MS,

and Germantown, Tennessee during the course of their marriage. She had

two children by her marriage, Brent Forbes Barrentine and

Blake Garrott Barrentine.

She was preceeded in death by her father Colonel (Ret) Dennis L. Forbes,

and son Brent Forbes Barrentine.

She is survived by her husband William Melton Barrentine, Jr. in Germantown, TN,

her son, Blake Garrott Barrentine in Memphis, TN, her mother Eva Forbes

in Germantown, TN, her brother Douglas Forbes in Greenville, Indiana,

and her sister Mildred Forbes in Lexington, Kentucky.

There are no words to adequately describe the loving, caring, positive nature

Denise possessed. She literally could not speak negative words. Her every utterence,

without qualification, was upbeat and happy, never a cross word to anyone.

She was a devout Christian and gave thanks on a daily basis. Her generosity was

renowned and she contributed to various Christian and charitable organizations

for decades up until the end. She had a wonderful 5 year old Taco-Terrier pet dog named Puck

whom she adored and spoiled with the love she poured on him. He was by her side

at her passing also. She was in her home, surrounded with love by her husband, son Blake,

and Puck during her last days.

We are all diminished and the world shall not soon recover with her passing.