Donna M Barnes

Donna Marie Barns was born June 28, 1949 in Washington DC, the second of three children born to the late Marcus G. and Ellen D. Barnes. She departed this life on November 15, 2018, after a brief illness.

Donna was educated in the District of Columbia Public School System, where she graduated from Burdick Vocational High School, earning a diploma as well as a certificate in secretarial skills.

She gave her life to Christ at an early age and was a long-time member of Tenth Street Baptist Church. She later became a member of Southern Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, where she served on the choir and usher ministries. Donna also was a member of The District Chapter Club of Watch Tower Baptist Church, and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. While in the Eastern Star, Donna had the honor of being the Past Matron of Ruth Chapter #8. She was also a member of the Heroines of Jericho, Belle E. Lewis #5, Lydia Court #3, Datcher Court #2, Cyrene Crusader, and Daughters of Isis to name a few.

She was employed with the Federal Government in different agencies which included the Department of Veteran’s Affairs for 20 years, Department of Defense (Pentagon) for 10 years, and the United States Postal Service. She finally retired from the government in 1997. After a few years of retirement, in 2004, she went back into the work force and worked for the American Nurses Association for eight years.

Donna will be missed dearly by family, friends and neighbors. She leaves to cherish her memory, two children, Willie J. Ross, Jr. (Patricia) and Doreatha J. Ross; two sisters, Peggy A. Brooks, and Carol Z. Barnes-Bryant; 13 grandchildren, D’Michael, Jennifer, Necho, Ashley, Victoria, Nicky, Jordan, DaVon, Kenyetta, Marcus, Daysha, Maliya, and Ayden; 22 great-grandchildren; one godson, Brandon K. Harris; two uncles, Leslie P. Harris, Sr. and Earl J. “Bobby” Harris; two nieces, Teresa M. Brooks and Angela T. Ross; one nephew, Floyd D. Brooks, Jr. and a host of other relatives and friends.

Family will receive friends on Friday, November 30 from 10 a.m. until time of service 11 a.m. at Southern Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 4444 Branch Avenue, Temple Hills, MD 20745. Interment Fort Lincoln Cemetery.