Barbara Jean McNamee

Mrs. Barbara Jean McNamee, 75, transitioned on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 at her residence in Ashland, MS.

Ms. Barbara J. McNamee was born May 28, 1946, in Ashland, Mississippi the (baby) youngest of three children to the late Jake and Louvenia McAfee. Barbara graduated from Old Salem High School in 1963, after High School, she attended Rust College, where she graduated with a Business Education B.A. Degree and then she attended  the University of Mississippi and the University of Memphis for her MBA.

She lived the life of a saint by the lives she touched and the prayers she prayed. She loved GOD, her Church, her Son and her Family. She knew no strangers, and everyone was a friend. For God she lived, and for God she died.

She was dependable, reliable and dedicated, to her church and community. She was Chairperson of the Benton County Empowerment Association. Barbara will live forever in the Spirit and within our hearts. She was born again in the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ and joined Palestine Missionary Baptist Church where there she served as Choir President, Youth Department President, Church Secretary, and Junior Usher President. Later she united with St. James COGIC under the leadership of Elder James Norman. There she served as Pastor Aid President, Choir Member. God spoke to her heart, she moved and united with Foundation of Life Church here in Lamar, Mississippi where she served as a Choir Member and her cherished position was Program Coordinator. She was Bible Study Team Leader with Youth Department.

She always encouraged people to stay with the Lord and enjoyed lifting the spirit of young people and those who had little or no hope. She was a people person and the super glue and Icon for our family. Barbara was compassionate, wise, an  evangelistic minded person, a devoted person. This loss to us is Heaven’s gain. She was known as a woman of strong character and integrity.

She worked in the Benton County and Marshall County Schools for thirty-eight years. Her students can be found all over the world and some of them have become administrators and faculty of the Benton County Schools. Every student that came through her classroom doors was loved and nurtured. They saw her as not just as a teacher but also as a friend. She wore many hats when it came to work experiences. She worked as a Cashier with Wal-Mart for 12 years and with Briarcrest Nursing Home for 2 two years, where she retired for a second time.

She leaves behind a son, Sedric (Chaka) McNamee of Memphis, TN who was the apple of her eye. A special grandbaby, Channing P. Johnson; a niece, Alicina (Warren) Jackson of St. Louis, MO; nephews, Aundra (Myrtle) Nelson of St. Louis, MO, Ricky McAfee of Ashland, MS, James Edward (Terrie) McAfee of Mt. Pleasant, MS. She also leaves behind a young lady she adopted as her daughter Gertrude (Bo) McKennie, of Bolivar, TN and a host of great nieces and nephews, friends and family.

Services will be held on Saturday, July 24, 2021 at 2p.m., at Foundation Of Life Church in Lamar, MS. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Serenity-Autry Funeral Home of Holly Springs is in charge of the arrangements.

Visitation will be on Friday, July 23, 2021 from 4-6p.m., at Serenity-Autry Funeral Home Chapel.