Anna Catherine (Lawrence) Barnes

Anna Catherine Lawrence Barnes was born December 14, 1936 in Chattanooga, TN and departed this life on September 18, 2021. “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil His promises to her!“ Luke 1: 45. Catherine was the only child of Margaret and Clifton Lawrence, who predeceased her.  Catherine is survived by her beloved husband of 66 years, Kelly A. Barnes, children Vicki Barnes Davis (Larry), Christopher K. Barnes (Tracy), Clifton S. Barnes (Judy); four grandchildren, April Barnes Wade (Jonathan), Alexander C. Barnes, Tessa and Ethan Austell; brother in law, James Barnes (Patricia); nephew James Barnes (Sarah) and many cousins.  Catherine was a long time member of Wall Highway Baptist Church and enjoyed her work with AWANAS. Catherine retired from the Army Corps of Engineers with 25+ years of service. Catherine was an avid gardener, reader, tennis player and in her day, a great cook.  She taught her children to cook and allowed them to take over that chore,  when it became “so dang daily”.  She and Kelly raised their children in a Christian home where there was much love and laughter via biking, swimming, ball playing, music, camping, shopping and forced labor in the garden.  She had a yard that was the envy of all her neighbors in Skyline and she poured all her energy and money into many, many plants.  Catherine had a little red car with which she tooled thru North Alabama, sometimes having to perform evasive maneuvers when she saw blue lights in her rear view mirror.   Catherine adored her children and grandchildren, telling them they can do anything. She was enthusiastically dedicated to the family to include being a Girl Scout leader for several years and participating in a twenty mile hike at Shiloh National Park.  She enjoyed boating for ten years with Kelly and would read on the stern while Kelly blazed along the river.  In -laws Jim and Patsy would sometimes join them.  Catherine was an avid reader sometimes polishing off two to three books a week.  She was a dynamite Canasta player.  Catherine graduated from Chattanooga HS.  She attended Murfreesboro State University in her early years and maintained a 67 year friendship with Margaret, JoAnn, and Mary Ann.  She graduated from Athens State University at the age of 52, after going to night school for six years with best friends Sandra Mayes and Delores Foster from the Corps of Engineers.    She mentored Deborah Cosby, hiring her out of high school to the Corps’ benefit and she is still there.  She loved her colleagues, Henry Everitt, Lona Jackson, and Kevin Healy, so much so that she fixed up Kevin with her beloved hairdresser, Yvonne.  They’ve been married for twenty six years now.  Catherine was a blessed wife and mother and we miss her.  “She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs without fear at the future”. Proverbs 31:25  “God is with her, she will not fail.” Psalm 46:5. The family extends grateful thanks to the staff of Dekalb Medical Center’s Senior Care Floor and Shepherd’s Cove Hospice for their gracious and kind attention to our mom and wife.  Visitation will be Wednesday,  September  22 , 2021 at 130p.  Celebration of Life Service led by Pastor Allen Hays, Wall Highway Baptist Church will follow at 230p at Spry Funeral Home, North Parkway, Huntsville, AL. Graveside service will follow at Faith Memorial Cemetery on Highway 20, Madison, AL at approximately 330p.  Pallbearers are John Cofield, Jonathan O’Rear, Brian Hamill, Kerry Straub, Jason Esslinger, Tim Morse.

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