Mary Jane Barker Barnett

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Mary Jane Barker Barnett passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, May 7, 2023.

Mary was born on January 25, 1930, to Henry Arthur Barker and Bessie Frances Davis Barker in the mountains of Franklin, North Carolina. By 1935, she and her family moved to Pamlico County. Mary had fond memories of her childhood on the Holton Farm, trading eggs for candy, digging for potatoes, and playing with her siblings, cousins, and her aunts Pearl and Grace who were more like sisters. She was a member of the Beta Club and Glee Club at Stonewall High School, and she received the Best All Around Outstanding Citizenship Award at graduation. She attended 2 years of community college.

On December 1st, 1950, she married the love of her life, Wade Edward Barnett of Hobucken, son of Harold “Bud Lee” and Jettie Phillips Barnett, at the First Baptist Church parsonage in a double wedding ceremony with some of their best friends, Hiram and Ola Lewis. Mary faithfully waited for Wade as he served in the US Army Corps of Engineers in Germany during the Korean Conflict. After he returned, Mary gave birth to their first son, Edward Ray Barnett, in 1953. In 1958, she gave birth to their second son, Robert Henry Barnett, and they raised their family in Hobucken. While her favorite job was being her boys’ mother, Mary had other jobs including being the librarian and substitute teacher at Hobucken School.

Wade died in 1977. Mary told everyone how overjoyed she was to get a piece of Wade back when she saw her first grandbaby, Amy, in 1983 (daughter of Ray and his first wife, Hazel Buck Barnett of Winterville). In 1985, Ray and Hazel gave her a second granddaughter, April.

In 1989, her son Robert married Kim Brothers who had a 5-year-old daughter, Ashley Popperwill, and Mary gained another granddaughter! In 1992, Robert and Kim had a daughter, Amber, who Mary lovingly referred to as “my baby’s baby.”

Mary was very active in her community as well as in her church. She taught Sunday School for 40 years at New Vision PH Church in Hobucken. She volunteered many years for Hospice and Christian Aid. She loved to sing silly songs with her granddaughters, and she showed them the importance of prayer each night they were with her. She also loved reading, talking on the phone, solving word puzzles, playing games, eating, shopping, writing poetry, crocheting, and traveling. She made the best biscuits and dumplings!

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; son, Robert; step-grandson, Colby Barnard; and grandson-in-law, Joshua Smith.

Mary is survived by her son, Ray, and his wife, Jeraldine “Jerrie” of South Creek; former daughter-in-law, Hazel Barnett of Winterville; granddaughters: Amy Barnett of Ayden, Ashley Barnard (Randy) of Hobucken, April Smith of Winterville, & Amber Wheeler (Michael) of Bayboro; all her sisters, Elsie “Bea” McDonagh, Elizabeth Harbin (Harold), Maxine Kuhn, all of New Bern, & Betty Priester (John) of Reelsboro; both her brothers, Henry “Bud” Barker Jr (Anita), & Ralph Barker (Jean) of New Bern; great-grandchildren, Peyton, Eli, & Jettie Smith, Brooke Barnard, Gabby, Jayden, Jordan, & Sophia Wheeler; and she was blessed with many special nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Family and friends will be joining at Daniels-Sadler Funeral Home in Alliance on Wednesday, May 10 at 11am (visitation at 10) to celebrate an amazing 93 years lived. Rev. Phillip Lewis of Lowland PH Church, where she was a member since March 25, 2001, will be presiding. She will be buried in the Barnett Cemetery in Hobucken. We know she heard the Lord say “Well done” to His good and faithful servant!