Audrey Ruth Barnette

Audrey Ruth Burns Barnette, age 94 of the Rock Creek Community, passed away on Thursday, March 10, 2016 at her residence. She was born August 9, 1921, a daughter of the late Lee burns and Vera Everett Burns. Also, she was preceded in death by her husband, Fite; son, Philip, infant son, James Norris Barnette; sisters, Berline DeFoor, and Geneva Hammontree; brothers, Hoyt Burns, and Hollis Burns. Audrey loved the Rock Creek area where she was born. She came back to Rock Creek in 1981 when she retired from Delta Airlines, to live in the house her son, Philip Arnold Barnette had built for her and her husband Reverend Hayes Fite Barnette. They were married on November 3, 1940 in the Curryville Community of Gordon County. Fite preceded her in death on January 14, 2009. She graduated from Oostanaula High School in 1940 as valedictorian. She had a friendly, loving personality and made friends everywhere she went. She was the consummate pastor’s wife serving alongside Fite in all the churches he pastored. Her legacy will be her love and devotion to God and her family. She was known as one of the most dedicated prayer warriors her whole life. She was a past member of the Belmont Baptist Church. In the past few years, she has been a supportive member of West Union Baptist Church. She is survived by her three daughters, Carol Jenkins of Douglasville, Linda Blankenship and her husband Dennis of Cedartown, and Brenda Goering and her husband J.B. of Pendleton, South Carolina; grandchildren, Cheryl Johnson, Matt Parkman, Jenny Snow, Casey Parkman, David Tucker, Micah Blankenship and Harley Barnette; two step-grandchildren, Eric Jenkins and Leanne Vollrath; great-grandchildren, Adam Parkman, Tabitha Babb, Victoria Johnson, Mitchel and Matthew Rodriguez, Ben Snow, Nora Grace Snow; and a great-granddaughter, Tatum Babb. Services to celebrate the life Audrey Ruth Barnette will be conducted on Sunday, March 13 at 2:00 PM at the Belmont Baptist Church with the Reverends Matt Futch and Jerry Brooks officiating. Jim and Treva Sellers will be in charge of music, and burial will be in West Union Baptist Church Cemetery. The body of Mrs. Barnette will lie in state from 1:00 until 2:00 PM at the church. The family will receive friends on Saturday, March 12 from 3:00 until 5:00 PM at Thomas Funeral Home. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. The Barnette family wishes to thank the Heyman Hospice group for their presence and support during these last days. Online condolences may be recorded at www.thomasfuneralhomecalhoun.com Thomas Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Audrey Ruth Burns Barnette.