Sarah Elizabeth Mayes Barnes, 99, of Marianna, retired teacher and instructor at Marianna High School, the adult education department of Jackson County, and Chipola College, died Sunday, January 3, 2016, at Marianna Health & Rehabilitation Center.
A native of Bainbridge, Georgia, she received her bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, and her master's degree from Florida State University in Tallahassee. She taught in Jackson County schools and at Chipola College until her retirement in 1976. She was the oldest member of the faculty (retired) at Chipola College at the time of her death.
She was a Life Member of the Marianna Garden Club; a supporter of the Friends of the Library of Jackson County, where she served many years on the Memorial Books Committee; a former member and past president of the Marianna Junior Woman's Club; and an ardent supporter of the arts. She served as a past president of the Chipola Regional Arts Association. She was the oldest living communicant of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Marianna, where she served in numerous capacities and on numerous committees. She inspired and touched all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her husband of more than 50 years, Ben F. Barnes, a long time local attorney, her parents, Charles Robert Mayes and Ruth Agnes Holder Mayes of Bainbridge, Georgia, and her brother, Charles Robert Mayes, Jr. of Pompano Beach, Florida.
She is survived by her daughters, Ruth Barnes Kinsolving (Laurence) of Marianna and Elizabeth ("Betty") Barnes Daniels (Joseph) of Atlanta, Georgia, eight grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.
A memorial service was held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at 2 p.m. Interment will be at a later date at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Chattahoochee, Florida. James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
For any who may desire to make a contribution in her memory, the family notes that the following were particularly dear to her:
St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 4362 Lafayette St., Marianna, FL 32446,Jackson County Public Library, 2929 Green St., Marianna, FL 32446, Chipola Regional Arts Association Endowment Fund, 3094 Indian Circle, Marianna, FL 32446.
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