Scott Barnes

Scott Barnes, age 96, died peacefully in Columbia on April 20, 2021. Born November 22, 1924 in Manning, South Carolina, he was a son of the late Guy Barnes and Mattie Beard Barnes. He was predeceased by brothers and sisters-- Guy Jr., Mary, Carl, Gem, Frank, and Betty. He grew up in Manning where he and his siblings enjoyed the childhood adventures of farm life. He attended school in Manning, where in the fifth grade he met his “sweetheart” and the love of his life, Dorothy Jean Wade.

In 1941, he graduated from Manning High School, where he played baseball and was chosen as the most handsome senior. He began college at age 16 at the University of South Carolina (USC) in Columbia with only $25.00 in his pocket. His college career was interrupted in 1942 when he volunteered for the U. S. Navy at age 18. His naval service included assignments at Great Lakes, Illinois, Columbia University (Officer Candidate School), and Key West, Florida. After his discharge from the Navy, he returned to the USC and graduated in June 1947 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. The next day he married Dorothy Jean, who had refused to marry him until he finished college.

He and Dorothy Jean settled in Columbia, where he began his first career job as an accountant with Standard Oil of New Jersey (Exxon). At the same time, he completed a Master’s Degree in Economics from USC while also teaching business administration and accounting courses. In 1972, he became one of the first graduates of the new USC MBA program. He was one of the founders of the Calhoun Life Insurance Company in 1954 in Columbia, where for the next 18 years he served as General Agent and Director of Recruiting and Training. He also received the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation during this time. He served professionally as President of the Columbia, SC Chapter of the Chartered Life Underwriter’s Association and as Vice-President of the state chapter. After a corporate merger involving Calhoun Life with Appalachian National Life Insurance Company, he continued in the insurance business with Appalachian and later Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina. During these years, he enjoyed teaching college students again in the areas of accounting, economics, finance, and insurance for Midlands Technical College and USC as an Adjunct Professor in Columbia, Fort Jackson and at Shaw AFB. He then took a position as a Senior Budget Analyst for the South Carolina State Budget and Control Board, where he worked with many state agencies and institutions on budget development and management, retiring in 1993 after 15 years.

The church was an especially important part of his life. After growing up in the Methodist church, he joined Shandon Presbyterian Church in Columbia in 1951, where he became the youngest Elder ever elected at age 31. He was a highly regarded Sunday school teacher for youth and adult classes and taught over 2000 Sunday school lessons in his lifetime. He also served several terms as a church officer and on several pastor nominating committees. As an unofficial church greeter each Sunday, he welcomed many new members into the church over the years. In 2020, he was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation and designated as “Ambassador Emeritus” by the Shandon congregation for his service. After residing in his Columbia home for 69 years, he moved to Assisted Living at Rice Estate in 2020, where he lived out the remainder of his life.

He was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Dorothy Jean Wade Barnes, who passed away in 2005. He is survived by his son, William Scott Barnes of Columbia and his daughter, Jean Wade Barnes Cottrell (Rob) of New Port Richey, Florida. He is also survived by 5 grandchildren: Richard Scott Barnes (Kristi), Cathryn Anne Cottrell-Gonzalez (Tristen), Emily Elizabeth Cottrell (Eka), Abigayle Caroline Cottrell and Ethan Robert Cottrell and great-grandchildren Heather Nicole Martin, Kristopher Keith Garcia, and Kyle Michael Garcia.

The family would like to express appreciation to Scott’s many friends, relatives, neighbors, church members and to his care team at Rice Estate and Lutheran Hospice who made the last year of his life meaningful and comfortable.

Viewing will be held on Friday, April 30, 2021 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel. Due to COVID attendance restrictions, a family celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, May 1, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at Shandon Presbyterian Church, Columbia, SC. There will be a livestream of the service on Dunbar Funeral Home – Devine’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/DunbarDevine. Other friends of Scott who wish to attend the service should RSVP on the Shandon Presbyterian Church website. A graveside service will be held at 4:00 p.m. at the Manning Memorial Cemetery.

At Scott’s request, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Shandon Presbyterian Church, Pastor’s Discretionary Fund, 607 Woodrow St, Columbia, SC 29205. Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com