Roger Barnett, 80, was born August 20, 1946, in Sylacauga, Alabama, and passed away September 5, 2026. A man deeply cherished by those who knew him, Roger’s life was marked by a steady devotion to his family, his faith, and his country. He was known for the kind of hard work that speaks for itself, day after day, through a life faithfully lived.
Roger served in the U.S. Army with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry in Vietnam. In that service, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service and received the Bronze Star Medal for Heroism in Ground Combat. These honors reflect not only what he did, but the steadfast loyalty and resolve with which he did it.
A longtime member and deacon at Shelvin Rock Baptist Church, Roger invested himself in his church family with the same dependable spirit he brought to every part of life by showing up, serving quietly, and standing firmly beside others.
At home, Roger’s love was practical and constant. Married to Judy Roberson Barnett for 29 years, he was beloved by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. His care was felt in the everyday ways that build a life together. An avid fisherman and hunter, he also had the rare gift of being able to fix anything. He would build tree houses, and later, when they were outgrown, he would remove them from the tree and repurpose them into other useful structures. He was always turning effort into something lasting, again and again. He was an avid Alabama football fan at heart, but he was proudly supportive of the grandchildren who attended Auburn, because his loyalty always made room for the people he loved most.
Roger is survived by his wife, Judy Roberson Barnett; daughter, Cynthia Barnett Sprayberry; sons, Brandon Waites (Amy) and Brett Waites (Danielle); 7 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Brenda Barnett; and sisters, Esther Goswick, Hazel Ragsdale, and Jeanette White.
Roger was preceded in death by his father, Howard Stanley Barnett; his mother, Mary Ruth Barnett Conn; brothers, Howard Barnett and Bobby Barnett; and sisters, Nina Murphy and Rudine Hosey.
Visitation will be held on September 7, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Shelvin Rock Baptist Church, Sylacauga, AL 35151. The funeral service will follow at the church at 11:00 am. Roger will be laid to rest at Shelvin Rock Baptist Church Cemetery. Bro. Josh Burks will officiate.
The pallbearers will be Tony Tringale, Kyle Barnett, Blake Anderson, Cole Sprayberry, Chris Knight, and Ricky Skinner.
The family are accepting memorial floral arrangements or donations made to Shelvin Rock Baptist Church.
Special thanks are offered to the nurses who took such good care of him at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Centerwell Home Health, and SouthernCare New Beacon Hospice.
Though Roger’s passing brings sorrow, his memory remains a source of strength as an enduring reminder of a beloved man whose loyalty ran deep, whose hands were never idle, and whose life lifted others simply by the way he showed up and loved.
