Mary Helen Barnes' Obituary
Helen Ratcliffe Barnes was born in Brunswick, Georgia on September 25, 1913 and went to be with her Lord and Savior on May 4, 2012. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of sixty-four years, Alton, as well as her parents, Lily and Robert Ratcliffe and her nine siblings: Julia Ratcliffe, Rachael Middleton, David Ratcliffe, Herbert Ratcliffe, George Ratcliffe, Frank Ratcliffe, Edgar Ratcliffe, Louise Nicholson, and Jack Ratcliffe. She is survived by her only child, Martha Barnes Wright and her husband, Ronald; three granddaughters and their spouses, Laura and Jeff Anderson, Lynn and Tony Cherryhomes and Leigh and Dan Riser; eight great grandchildren, Caroline, Garrison, Jackson, Ashleigh, Byron and Aaron Anderson, Abigail Cherryhomes, and Caleb Riser and numerous nieces and nephews. Helen’s life reflected her faith in God. She was a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was an active member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Augusta, Georgia until 1998, when she moved to Plano, Texas. She was a member of the Dialog Sunday School class and served on the Altar Committee. Helen spent over thirty years teaching school, primarily in Georgia. She was dedicated to her profession and had high expectations and goals for her students. After retiring, she devoted her life once again to serving others through her responsibilities as a hospital “pink lady”, working at the community clothing store, and ministering to people in need that God put in her path. Throughout the difficulties associated with aging, she continued to be gracious as she persevered and pressed on toward Heaven. Helen will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Her family would like to thank Helen’s caregiver, Linda Traylor, for her faithfulness in giving seven years of tender, loving care and spiritual encouragement. A celebration of Helen’s life will be held at 10 A.M., Monday, May7 at the Wildwood Chapel in Restland Memorial Park, Dallas, Texas. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Helen Ratcliffe Barnes may be made to the American Heart Association.
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