Richard Grant Barnes Jr.

Richard Grant Barnes, Jr., of Brandon, Mississippi, passed away peacefully early Sunday morning, May 12, 2024 at the age of eighty. Richard was born June 25, 1943, in Jackson, Mississippi, where he grew up playing baseball in the summer time and basketball during the school year, attending Calvary Baptist Church, and working on his cars—the first of which he bought when he was nine years old.

Richard graduated from Provine High School in 1961, a wonderful class that he kept up with throughout his entire life. He graduated from Mississippi College in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts.

Richard worked for the Tennessee Department of Health from 1965 to 1968. From 1968 to 1977, he worked for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. During that time at NASA, he was selected to view the Apollo 11 lift-off, July 16, 1969; to complete a Master of Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma; and to represent NASA in a year-long program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Upon his return to Huntsville, he was assigned to the Governor’s Office of Science and Technology in Jackson, Mississippi. Early in 1977 NASA asked Richard to assume another position in Huntsville. It was at this point that he left NASA, did free lance photography, then opened a studio in Jackson, Mississippi. Even though he closed the studio due to the flood of 1979, he continued to use his skills as a photographer throughout his life, taking beautiful pictures of trips to Canada and throughout all of the United States, as well as recording pictorially family holidays throughout the years. Having left photography as a livelihood, the next four decades, Richard worked diligently in insurance and financial planning, becoming successfully certified in both disciplines.

Richard was involved in churches since his grandfather enrolled him in the cradle roll at Calvary Baptist Church just weeks after he was born in 1943. One of his favorite churches was Wells Church, in Jackson, where he participated in the choir and chaired WellsFest, a free, family-friendly music festival, for two years. He made many friends at Wells. Most recently he delighted in being a member of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, participating every Sunday online in the Compass Class. He enjoyed meeting new friends online who were called “The Zoomers.” One weekend this past November, Zoomers came to Jackson to visit him. For several decades Richard participated in various responsibilities at Paisano Baptist Encampment in the Davis Mountains of Texas. Leading the men’s prayer group for twenty-two years was a loving duty for him. Richard was a member of Optimist International and loved to participate in various community activities with this organization. Richard loved the outdoors, and fishing and hunting were welcome delights, not only for the hunting and fishing, but also for the gentlemen with whom he shared those activities. During his years in Huntsville, he enjoyed motorcycles and made dear friends with those with whom he road. All genres of music greatly interested him. Richard saw Elvis and the Beatles live, enjoyed a variety of concerts of other musical artists, and sang in the chorus of Verde’s Requiem in Carnegie Hall. At the age of fifty-nine, he began guitar lessons. Wherever his interests led him, he researched, read, and attempted these hobbies and passions with zeal.

Richard is preceded in death by his parents Richard G. Barnes, Jr., and Barbara McKinley Barnes and his brother Phillip McKinley Barnes.

Richard is survived by his wife Polly of thirty-three years of Brandon, Mississippi; his brother Mike (Shelba) of Flowood, Mississippi; his sister-in-law Chris Berger (Ric) of Dallas, Texas; his children Jeffrey Barnes (Elaine) of Memphis, Tennessee; and McKinley Barnes of Ojai, California; his step-daughters Kate Keeler (Dylan) of Redding, Connecticut; and Beth Rosenquist (Eric) of Cambridge, Massachusetts; grandsons Joseph and Kai Barnes, and step-grandson Allen Keeler, his cousin Sam McKinley (Mae), and one aunt, and nephew Dan (Shelly), and nieces Heather Cole (Peter), Carrie Duncan (Nat), Emily Barnes, Merry Barnes, and Annie Gallegos (Amador), niece-in-law Kelsey Taylor, and great-nephews and nieces.

Richard was such a unique man who deeply loved his family and friends and even stayed in touch with many cousins on a weekly basis. As he began to realize that his health was declining, he turned more and more to enjoying his grandsons Joseph and Kai who faithfully facebooked with Grandpa. There was always a tale to hear. Such faithfulness to this endeavor was extraordinary in these young men. His step-grandson Allen delighted Grandpa, too, sharing his own made-up stories. Richard’s son Jeff and daughter McKinley frequently called Richard, especially as his abilities waned, greatly encouraging him. Gratefully Richard’s brother Mike was ever-present to help take him to numerous doctors’ appointments and to visit with Richard during hospital and rehabilitation stays. The love between these two brothers that had endured for decades continued to Richard’s death and will sustain both until they meet again.

The family would like to thank Dr. Lyssa Weatherly, Dr. Michael McMullan, and Dr. Neil Haraway; RNs Nadia and Kally of Compassus Hospice, DiAndria and Sheneka of Covenant Caregivers, and RN Mara of AccentCare Home Health for the care and compassion each individual and facility showed Richard.

Interment will be Thursday, May 30, 2024, at 3 p.m. A private family Celebration of Richard’s life will be held in the near future.

Interment will be at Lakewood Memorial Park, Jackson, Mississippi.

In lieu of flowers, donations might be made to Paisano Baptist Encampment, 91872 W US-90, Alpine, TX 79830.