Sylvia Liles Barnett

Sylvia Liles Barnett passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 19th, 2021 at the age of 84. She went to her final rest with family by her side. She was born in Belle Glade, FL in 1937 but after a few moves, her family settled in Baytown, TX where she graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1955. She went on to earn several degrees and certificates from Stephen F. Austin, Nova University, University of Florida & Valdosta State in Education, Speech Pathology, & Early Childhood Development. After teaching in Texas, she moved to the Destin / Fort Walton Beach area of Florida to continue teaching there. Next, she headed towards the sunny beaches of Fort Lauderdale and began yet another teaching opportunity. She finished up her distinguished career Suwannee County school system in Live Oak with more than 33 combined years serving the public education system and influencing hundreds of lives.

By April of 1966, she had met and married the love of her life, Sam Barnett. They met each other in their College & Career Sunday School class at First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale. Over the next few years, they were blessed with two sons, Brad and Rick. In 1974, they moved the family to Live Oak to operate their own business and raise their family. They retired in 1999 and moved to Jacksonville. In 2019, they moved to Cumming, GA. Sam and Sylvia were blessed to have more than 55 years together.

Sylvia loved to spend time with her family. Whether it was playing games together like Rummikub, dominoes or cards, or just watching an old television show like Matlock, Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, or just about anything showing on the Hallmark Channel. She also liked just thumbing through a copy of Southern Living or Better Homes & Gardens to look for ideas on how she may redecorate her home. She had many artistic skills including sketching & painting, home décor, and floral arranging. However, her best skill may have been in being a faithful servant to the Lord, Jesus Christ. She could sometimes be overheard softly humming old gospel hymns. She loved to spend time daily reading and studying her bible. She was a prayer warrior who believed and trusted God’s answers, rather than relying on her own expectations of life. She was a faithful member for years at First Baptist Fort Lauderdale, First Baptist Church of Live Oak, Mandarin Baptist Church of Jacksonville, and more recently, First Baptist Church of Cumming, GA.

Sylvia is preceded in death by her parents, (Earl and Myrtle Liles), her husband, (Sam Barnett), her brothers, (Tommy, Charlie, Russell, Lanny and Donald Ray Liles), and her two sisters, (Mary Louise Franklin and Charlotte Faye Esterak).

She is survived by her brother, (Joe Liles of Baytown, TX), her brother-in-law, (Johnnie Esterak of Brenham, TX), her son, (Brad Barnett - Amy Barnett of Jacksonville – FL), her son, (Rick Barnett – Renee Barnett of Cumming – GA), and six grandchildren, (Robert, Mason, Virginia, Connor, Allison & Lauren Barnett). She’s also survived by numerous nephews, nieces, and special friends spread out across this great country, whom she loved and cherished dearly.

Services will be held on Saturday, September 25th, 2021 at Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel & Oaklawn Cemetery located at: 4801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207.

To view the livestream of the service please visit:

https://youtu.be/WN3-j4Z4CGE

https://youtu.be/cN4HA3pFX3k