James Barnes Milton, Florida Obituary

James Barnes

God’s faithful servant, James Earl Barnes, entered peacefully into his life in Heaven on February 15, 2015, after passing away under the care at West Florida Covenant Hospice. He is preceded in passing by his father, Otis Barnes; his mother, Vera Barnes; his brother, Glennon Barnes; and his sister, Foye Reeves. He leaves behind his loving wife of 66 years, Helen Erline Barnes; his sons, Donald and Randy Barnes and their families; his daughter Pam Sauls and her family; his brother Gerald Barnes and his family; and his sister Elizabeth Williams and her family. He was a blessing to love 9 grandchildren, 16 great grand-children, and 4 great great-grandchildren. Born June 17, 1925, James Earl worked in his family’s Milton, FL grocery store as a young man, before answering the call to serve his country as a member of the Army Air Corp during World War II, in the skies over France and Germany. After his return, on August 14, 1948, he married Erline Beane, his life partner. For a short time he owned and operated his own grocery store on Willing Street, in Milton, FL, and then began a career as a rural letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, from which he retired in 1985. At the same time, he built a clientele of more than 1,300 customers for his Barnes Tax Services, whom he served faithfully for more than 60 years before partnering with Chris Barra to form Barnes and Barra, Tax Consultants, in 2010. He was a trusted and loyal advisor on his clients concerns well into his later years, visiting and working with them through the early months of 2014. James was a dedicated member of Milton First Assembly of God for 66 years, serving his Christian family as Secretary/Treasurer for 50 of those years, and as Men’s Bible Class leader for 60 of them. Besides serving his God, he enjoyed spending time with his many friends and his family, and he nurtured a lifelong passion for gardening. James was kind, humble, intelligent and honest, and he lived his life so as to provide others with an example of Christian love. Services to celebrate James life will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, February 19, 2015 at Milton First Assembly of God Church, on Dogwood Dr., Milton, FL., with Rev. Fred Rogers and Dr. Mike Wiggins officiating. Visitation will be from 9:30 am to 11:00 am on Thursday, prior to services. Burial will follow at Serenity Gardens Cemetery with Lewis Funeral Home directing.
June 17, 1925 - February 15, 201506/17/192502/15/2015
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Obituary

God’s faithful servant, James Earl Barnes, entered peacefully into his life in Heaven on February 15, 2015, after passing away under the care at West Florida Covenant Hospice. He is preceded in passing by his father, Otis Barnes; his mother, Vera Barnes; his brother, Glennon Barnes; and his sister, Foye Reeves. He leaves behind his loving wife of 66 years, Helen Erline Barnes; his sons, Donald and Randy Barnes and their families; his daughter Pam Sauls and her family; his brother Gerald Barnes and his family; and his sister Elizabeth Williams and her family. He was a blessing to love 9 grandchildren, 16 great grand-children, and 4 great great-grandchildren. Born June 17, 1925, James Earl worked in his family’s Milton, FL grocery store as a young man, before answering the call to serve his country as a member of the Army Air Corp during World War II, in the skies over France and Germany. After his return, on August 14, 1948, he married Erline Beane, his life partner. For a short time he owned and operated his own grocery store on Willing Street, in Milton, FL, and then began a career as a rural letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, from which he retired in 1985. At the same time, he built a clientele of more than 1,300 customers for his Barnes Tax Services, whom he served faithfully for more than 60 years before partnering with Chris Barra to form Barnes and Barra, Tax Consultants, in 2010. He was a trusted and loyal advisor on his clients concerns well into his later years, visiting and working with them through the early months of 2014. James was a dedicated member of Milton First Assembly of God for 66 years, serving his Christian family as Secretary/Treasurer for 50 of those years, and as Men’s Bible Class leader for 60 of them. Besides serving his God, he enjoyed spending time with his many friends and his family, and he nurtured a lifelong passion for gardening. James was kind, humble, intelligent and honest, and he lived his life so as to provide others with an example of Christian love. Services to celebrate James life will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, February 19, 2015 at Milton First Assembly of God Church, on Dogwood Dr., Milton, FL., with Rev. Fred Rogers and Dr. Mike Wiggins officiating. Visitation will be from 9:30 am to 11:00 am on Thursday, prior to services. Burial will follow at Serenity Gardens Cemetery with Lewis Funeral Home directing.

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Events

Feb
19
Visitation
Thursday, February 19 2015
09:30 AM - 11:00 AM
First Assembly of God Milton
6163 Dogwood Drive
MILTON, FL 32570
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Feb
19
Service
Thursday, February 19 2015
11:00 AM
First Assembly of God Milton
6163 Dogwood Drive
MILTON, FL 32570
Get Directions
View MapTextEmail