Carolyn Margaret (Bell) Barnes

Carolyn Margaret Bell Barnes, a resident of Cleveland, died Wednesday morning, April 19, 2006, in a local nursing home at the age of 88 after living a glorious life for her Lord. Born on May 28, 1917, in Coffee Springs, Alabama, she moved to Cleveland from Detroit, Michigan, in 1975, following the retirement of her husband, Lex Barnes. Carolyn was a faithful worker for her Lord and a member of First Baptist Church in Cleveland. For many years, she and her sisters held Bible Clubs each week in various neighborhoods throughout Cleveland. She also had a heart for the deaf and was instrumental in establishing the deaf ministry program at First Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband: Lex Barnes; parents: Charles Ben Bell and Emmie Mohone Mizell Bell; brothers: Charles Bell, Jr., John Amos Bell, Joe Bell, A.B. Bell, and Gus Bell; sisters: Mary Emma Bell Lawson and Fannie Sue Bell; and son: Victor Rex Barnes. She is survived by daughter: Barbara Ann Ballinger; her sister: Vivian Janet Bell Barnes; grandson: Jeff Ballinger and wife Tammy of Covington, Virginia; granddaughter: Lisa Campbell and husband W.G. of Cleveland, Tennessee; and great grandchildren: Matthew Ballinger, Christie Ballinger, Hannah Campbell, Seth Campbell, Abby Campbell; and a host of nieces and nephews. The funeral will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 22, 2006 in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with Reverend Bill Griffith officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of the deaf ministry class of First Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m. Friday evening at Ralph Buckner Funeral Home.