Doris Marie Barnes

Doris Marie Barnes was born on February 16, 1944, in Gastonia, NC, to Willa M. and James H. Barnes, Sr. She was reared by her parents in Rock Hill, SC, along with her two sisters, Bennie and Carolyn, and her brother, Jimmy.

Upon graduating from Emmett Scott High School in 1961, Doris moved to Washington, DC, to attend Howard University while living with her Uncle Bennie, Aunt Allene, and Cousin Robert Barnes. Uncle Bennie featured her as a calendar girl for his thriving barber shop on Upshur Street NW. She later attended Cortez Peters Business School to become a certified executive secretary.

Doris’ first full-time job was as a long-distance operator at C&P Telephone Company, where she was soon promoted to the

company’s Personnel Office. There, she actively recruited other Black female long-distance operators – the start of a lifelong

tradition of finding jobs for friends and family. She encouraged her sister Bennie to come on board.

Doris and her sister Bennie shared many mischievous adventures as part of a beautiful, deep, and connected lifelong friendship. They cooked up schemes and embarked on many capers. They even returned to school together at Federal City College (now the University of the District of Columbia), where they each met their future husbands while obtaining their degrees. When their sister Carolyn joined them in DC, they became an unbreakable trio that shared mothering responsibilities, traveled together, and provided mutual support for decades.

In 1968, Doris started working for US Representative Don Edwards (D-CA), a co-author of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, chair of the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights, and Dean of the California Delegation. Her role as an essential, trusted member of his staff was a source of great pride throughout her life. Doris made many good friends during her time on the Hill ranging from Capitol Police officers and artisans who maintained the buildings and grounds, to fellow staffers. She generously shared the resources and access this role provided, finding jobs for her sister, daughter, in-laws, and others. In many cases, these opportunities were life-changing. After Congressman Edwards’ retirement in 1995, she worked for his successor Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) during her first term to support her transition to Congress.

Doris married Claude Lumpkins in 1971 and they welcomed two children: a daughter, Brigette, and a son, Claude II. Doris developed special relationships with Claude’s daughters from his first marriage, Angela and Deirdre. She continued to provide a loving and supportive environment for her children throughout and following her divorce from Claude. She reveled in her role as “Mommy Doris” and provided a beautiful, warm, and safe home while exposing her children to every opportunity possible – from plays at the Kennedy Center to art and music lessons to travel. Most importantly as a mother, she encouraged the independence and unique identities of each of her children with thoughtful intention.

While raising her children and working full time, she set up her own typing service at home called Flying Fingers. Doris’ clientele included attorneys, university professors, certified public accountants, PhD candidates, neighbors, and others. This business was a learning lab for both of her children, who mastered word processing and presentation skills well ahead of their peers.

Education was a lifelong priority for Doris, who finished her bachelor’s degree at UDC and later earned a master’s degree there as well in the 1990s. In the early 2000s, she received her second master’s degree in human resources from Trinity Washington University.

Fulfilling another aspiration, Doris was initiated into the Potomac Valley Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in April 1994. She was pinned by her daughter Brigette, who had been initiated days earlier into the Eta Kappa Chapter at Spelman College. Her sister Carolyn was initiated into the Beta Kappa Chapter at Livingstone College in the Spring of 1970. Together, the two sisters and Brigette were bound in a lifelong sorority legacy.

Ronald Walker, referred by neighbors in Shepherd Park, became a client of Flying Fingers in the 1980s when he started his own CPA firm. In 1993, Ron joined her for the Congressional Black Caucus dinner at Doris’ invitation, and they eventually married in 1998. The couple traveled extensively, including destinations like Paris and Johannesburg. For several years, they hosted joyful holiday gatherings at their home featuring music, delicious food, and wonderful company. Doris supported Ron in his leadership role in the National Association of Black Accountants, and following her second retirement, at his tax and audit firm, Walker & Co.

Among other joys following her 1996 retirement from Capitol Hill, she enjoyed her role as a recruiter for teachers and administrators for DC Public Schools, where she placed her son Claude. Claude was promoted to an administrator position at Dunbar High School. Doris also recruited foster parents for an agency called For Love of Children. Her greatest joy, however, was as Mimi to her “little brown package” Ananiah, her son Claude’s daughter. She led Ananiah’s Girl Scout troop and was an active participant in the DC Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, Inc.

The loss of her son Claude in 2014 was profound, yet Doris met it with quiet strength, stepping into the role of primary parent to Ananiah — an inspiration to all who knew her.

Doris is survived by her husband, Ronald Walker; daughter, Brigette Lumpkins of Miami, FL; sisters, Bennie Barnes and Carolyn Barnes Barnhardt of Washington, DC; brother, James “Jimmy” Barnes, Jr. (Loretta) of Rock Hill, SC; granddaughter, Ananiah Bolton-Raigns of Philadelphia, PA; stepdaughter, Angela Lumpkins Anderson of Bowie, MD; mother-in-law, Dolores J. Walker of New York City; aunt, Evelyn Moore of Charlotte, NC; nephews, Travis and Torrance

Barnhardt, Todd and Ben Williams, and Houston Barnes; and a host of cousins, in-laws, friends, neighbors, and business acquaintances. Doris was preceded in death by her son, Claude Akil Nadir (né Claude William Lumpkins II), her parents, James H. and Willa M. Barnes, and her stepdaughter, Deirdre Lumpkins Overton.

Doris will always be remembered for her sense of humor, boundless energy, generosity, intelligence, sense of style, and warm, loving nature.