Johnnie Lee Barnes

~~Johnnie Lee Barnes, affectionately known as “Mother”, was born October 6, 1925 in Okfuskee County near Boley, OK.  The youngest daughter of John and Fannie Barnes she attended Bryant Chapel Elementary in Sand Creek and later Boley High School.

In her own words she wrote….

“As a child I accepted Jesus Christ and was brought up in Ebenezer CME Church.  When I moved to Tulsa I joined Bethel SOA Church.  I worked as a deaconess and a Family Life Ministry Community leader.  I worked 50 years as a domestic worker for one family and 35 years for another family.  My volunteer work was with the Heart Association as a stroke survivor.  I was a spokesperson for the association.  As a mother of 9 children I kept Jesus head of our household.  To keep it short; my life was blessed by the BEST.  I have a very special, gifted, Christian family.”

Preceded in death by a son, Ronnie Barnes and a daughter, Brenda Faye Phillips Johnnie is survived by Dasol Mashaka, Terry Barnes, Devera Waterhouse, Larry Phillips, Donald “Don” Phillips, Cheryle Rivers and Michael Barnes.  She is further survived by 24 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren as well as a host of other family and friends.

Johnnie will lie in state from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday at the Ninde Brookside Funeral Home and her funeral will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday at the Restoration Church, 732 S. 145th E. Avenue.