Rev. Charles W. Barnes

Rev. Charles W. Barnes passed away Saturday, August 28, 2021 from a massive heart attack. His family and friends are mourning this loss. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jessie and Alpha Barnes; brothers and sisters, Paulene and Lowell Jacobs, Mac and Lenoy Barnes, Opal Barnes, Myrl and Harley Orhood, and Quillian and Etta Barnes; and his grandson, Phillip Sweatmon. Others who preceded him in death include many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.He is survived by his wife, Myrlene Barnes; daughter, Dale Barnes; and son and daughter-in-law, Doyle and Barbara Barnes. He is also survived by many stepchildren and grandchildren, who he loves as his own including Mike Edie, Curt Allen, Kristin, Mark, April, and Josh Schlinkert, Jake Freel, and Allison Emrick; and nieces and nephews.Charles was born in Carroll County, Georgia on November 28, 1931. He grew up on his father’s farm and learned his gardening skill as well as the basic values of life. It is there that he started his long association with the Methodist Church. He met Myrlene in High School and they married 71 years ago. After High School, he worked odd jobs and attended West Georgia College, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and he then had his daughter, Dale and son, Doyle. He then earned a Master’s Degree in Theology from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He served many Methodist Churches in those 30 years, in the North Georgia Conference. While he was serving the Paulding Circuit and again while serving the Redan Circuit, he received the Town and Country Circuit of the Year Award.After 30 years, he retired for the first time and he was appointed to the position of Director of Growth and Development, under the Church Development program. He picked the building sites, appropriated the funds and built many new churches during those 11 years. Charles has always given credit to his colleagues, knowing many lay people and clergy who worked tirelessly beside him to make the program a success.The North Georgia Conference established the Charles Barnes fund. Money from any properties is directed into this fund. These funds are used in Church Development programs throughout the Conference. The value of this fund is over 30 million dollars.After retirement from the Church Development (his second retirement), he was named the Distinguished Evangelist for the Board of Discipleship of Nashville. It was related to the Foundation for Evangelism headquartered at Lake Junaluska, NC. He served 2 more years travelling across America, working with churches, districts, and conferences who were interested in starting new churches as well as revitalizing established congregations.Upon retiring for the 3rd time, he received the North Georgia Annual Conference Denman Award for this work in Evangelism.Charles cared strongly about feeding the hungry. He used his knowledge in gardening to grow potatoes and delivered truckloads of them to the Lilburn Co Op. He spent his last years very involved in Mountain Park United Methodist Church.A funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 2, 2021 at 11:00 AM at Mountain Park United Methodist Church, Stone Mountain, GA. Entombment will follow at Eternal Hills Memory Gardens, Snellville, GA. he family will receive friends on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 from 2:00 PM until 3:30 PM at Tom M. Wages Snellville Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Mountain Park United Methodist Church, https://www.mountainparkumc.org/give.Due to COVID-19 regulations, our staff is committed to taking care of our guests and families that we serve. We also ask all guests and family members attending visitations and services to continue social distancing and to please bring and wear a mask.Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.wagesfuneralhome.com. Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, 3705 Highway 78 West, Snellville, GA 30039 (770-979-3200) has been entrusted with the arrangements.Read Obituary