Ethelene R. Barnes

Ethelene Russ Barnes, at the regal age of 88, was gently called to Heaven on January 23, 2025. She was born at White Lake, NC on December 12, 1936, to her loving parents, Edgar and Annie Lou Norris Russ. 

Loved by all who knew her, Ethelene chose to live her life through acts of great sacrificial generosity of time, effort, and kindness to her family, friends, others, and stray or injured animals of all kinds. She was a tirelessly dedicated and loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, snapping photos at every turn, and providing the little children in her life a menagerie of chickens, ducks, rabbits, and squirrels to play with. 

One of her greatest joys in life was to have a lavish Easter celebration egg hunt for the children of her family, church, and community, which she did for over 40 years. 

She was a proud, longtime member and Regent of the Battle of Elizabethtown Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). 

She was predeceased by her husband, Clyde O. Barnes, Sr., the love of her life, her parents and brothers, Elton Russ and wife, Sandra and Buck Russ and wife, Lucille, and grandson, Michael Packer. 

She is survived by her children, Clyde O. Barnes, Jr. and wife, Denise, Cynthia Darleen Jackson and husband, Donnie, Edgar (Eddie) Barnes and wife, Michele; grandchildren, Amy McDuffie and husband, Craig, Donna Jackson Hardee, and husband, Lucas, Berry Packer and wife, Nicole, Graham Russ Barnes and wife, Elizabeth, Hannah Barnes, Michael McDuffie, and Matthew McDuffie; great-grandchildren, Niqua Mayes, Jackson Hardee, Ezekiel Simonsen and Nellie Sue Barnes and many beloved nieces and nephews. 

Visitation will be held at the Beards Chapel Baptist Church Fellowship Hall at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, January 26, 2025

The funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, January 26, 2025, at Beards Chapel Baptist Church at 409 Beards Chapel Loop Road, Garland, NC. 

The graveside service will be held at the Beard’s Chapel Cemetery, 701 N White Lake, NC. 

All are welcome to a cover dish social with the family after the graveside service at the Beards Chapel Fellowship Hall. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bladen County Animal Shelter, 506 Smith Circle, Elizabethtown, NC 28337. 

Services are provided by Carter Funeral Home of Garland, NC. www.carterfh.com