Katie Barnes
February 26, 1926 — June 2, 2017
WILSON - Katie Russell Barnes, 91, died Friday, June 2, 2017.
Funeral, Wednesday, 11 AM, Evergreen Memorial Park.
Born Katherine Smith Russell in Nash County, North Carolina on February 26, 1926 to Annie Florence Smith Russell and Thomas Jennings Russell, Senior, she was known by friends as Katie. She graduated from Parkview Hospital School of Nursing in Rocky Mount and married Joseph Alton Barnes, also of Nash County.
Together they moved to Wilson almost 65 years ago. As an ob-gyn nurse, Katie assisted at the births of many local children until she put her career aside to nurture her own. She raised three offspring: a daughter, Rebecca Barnes Tighe (of Wilson, NC), and two sons: Joseph Alton Barnes, Junior (of Banner Elk, NC), and Russell Thomas Barnes (of Boulder City, NV), and lived to see six grandchildren: (Rebecca's daughter:) Bevin Tighe, (Joe's children:) Sommer Barnes, Isaac Barnes, (Russell's children:) Christopher Barnes, Kathryn Barnes Dart, and Corey Barnes, and five great grandchildren. Many others she took under her wing with motherly care to foster their talents and abilities, especially the women in her writers' circle.
Katie was a life long member of the Presbyterian Church in which she served as Sunday school teacher, choir member, and Elder.
In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to please send donations to the North Carolina Poetry Society, 319 N Steele St, Sanford, NC 27330.
We welcome you to honor our loved one by supporting their efforts to cultivate the literary gifts of others of all ages across our state. http://www.ncpoetrysociety.org/donations
The North Carolina Poetry Society is an all-volunteer organization that seeks to support poets throughout the state; to nurture new poets of all ages; to provide readings, workshops, and other poetry-related activities in all regions; and to increase the presence of poetry as an art form in public awareness and civic institutions.