Robert "Bob" Barnett

Bob Barnett passed away on the 1st day of June, 2024. He was predeceased by his father, Robert Duncan Barnett, his mother, Louise Winifred Barnett, his brother, John Edgar Barnett, his sister, Winfred Tissot, his daughter, Jennifer Carter, and his son Steven Harper. He attended Central Park Elementary School, Edgewood Elementary School, and graduated from Shades Valley High School in 1950. While attending Shades Valley High School, he played right halfback in the Jefferson County High School Championship Game in 1950. Upon graduation from Shades Valley High School, his family moved to Cullman, Alabama, where he attended St. Bernard College for one semester. In December of 1950, he enlisted in the Navy with his long time football teammate, Kenneth Bailey. Following boot camp in San Diego, California, he was stationed in Guam for nine months. He was assigned to the U.S.S. Sussex in the Pacific Theater. He was involved in the Korean War, and his ship participated in the Inchon invasion. He was transferred from the U.S.S. Sussex to attend a harbor defense school in San Francisco, California. Upon his graduation, he was certified as a harbor defense specialist. He was later transferred to Korea where he installed and maintained underwater sonar equipment to protect the Puson Harbor from submarines. Later, he was assigned to the Commander of the Pacific Fleet in Yokahama, Japan, as a courtier of top secret documents. He was discharged from the Navy in 1954. While he was serving in the Navy, his family moved to Beaumont, Texas, where he returned and attended Lamar University, graduating with a Bachelor of Business degree in 1957. He entered law school at the University of Alabama in 1957. While in law school, he was president of the legal fraternity Sigma Delta Kappa. Upon graduation from law school in 1960, he attended the Democratic Convention in Los Angeles and worked for the Lyndon Johnson presidential campaign. After the Democratic Convention, he remained in California and worked for Aetna Life Insurance Company as a claims adjuster. He returned to Birmingham in September of 1960 and began his law practice as a sole practitioner. In 1963, he formed the law firm of Barnett & Tingle with James “Buddy” Tingle. He and Buddy Tingle practice law together for 25 years, having many partners. He became a sole practitioner again in 2001 and retired from practicing law in 2004. While practicing as an attorney, he was designated as one of the Best Lawyers in America for over 30 consecutive years. He was a member of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers for 25 years. He was admitted to practice law in Alabama, Texas, and Wyoming before the United States Supreme Court, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Texas, the Supreme Court of Alabama, and all local courts in the State of Alabama. After retiring from the practice of law, he continued his career in the field of real estate and was a real estate broker. He was a 50 year Mason, a Shriner, a member of the Royal Order of Jesters Court 137, and a member of the Shoot & Brag club. He was President of China Wall Ranch, Allied Company, Werth Realty, First Avenue Investment Company, and many other companies during his retirement years. He was an avid hunter, hunting elk, deer, and antelope on land he owned in Wyoming for many years. He also hunted all over Central and South American, and went on an annual pheasant hunt each year until he was around 80 years old.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Barnett, his son Brandon Smith (Kymbreli), his grandchildren Robert Carson Smith and Hayden Olivia Smith, his stepdaughter Dayle Zazzali (Andy) of New Jersey, his grandchildren Paige Leigh Zazzali and Andrew Zazzali of New Jersey, his niece Tiffany Nemec of Dallas, Texas, and his nephews Robert Crockett and David Crockett of San Antonio, Texas.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Southern Heritage Funeral Home. A graveside service in his honor will be at 2:00 PM in the adjoining cemetery. The family invites everyone concluding the service to join them for a champagne toast and reception back at Southern Heritage in the chapel.

Please have any flowers or donations sent to the Zamora Shrine – Transportation for Children’s Fund:

Zamora Shrine

3521 Ratliff Road

Birmingham, AL 35210