Linda Joan Nichols Barnett, age 80, passed away on September 16, 2020, at 1:56 p.m., in the Jackson Madison County General Hospital in Jackson. After 9 years of chronic pain she finally claimed her ultimate healing.
Graveside funeral services were held on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, at 3 p.m. at Archer’s Chapel Cemetery in Halls, with Bro. Allen Guyer and Bro. John Banks officiating.
Linda was born on November 19, 1939, in Maury City. She accepted Christ as her Savior when she was 11 years old. She married Royce Barnett, May 11, 1957, and moved to Stanton. In 1960, they welcomed their twin daughters Darla and Debra. In 1971, they felt God’s calling on their lives to begin the Barnett Family Ministries, a southern gospel group which now consists of four generations. Their theme song and verse is “As For Me and My House, We Will Serve the Lord” Joshua 24:15. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially the grand and great grand-babies. Her happy place was doing what she loved most, which was telling of God’s love and sharing the gospel wherever the Lord led. She took pride in being called a few titles such as: A Christian first and foremost, a proud American, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother aka Nana.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Gus and Esther Pyland Nichols; three brothers, Ezra Nichols, James Wilburn Nichols, and John Lilburn (Teen) Nichols; and two sisters, Mildred Bolding and Gussie Hughes. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Royce Barnett of Stanton; her two daughters, Darla Dedmon (Jesse) and Debra Rodgers (Tracy) both of Brownsville; her three grandchildren, Greg Rodgers (Katherine) of Stanton, Taylor Dedmon (Hope) of Lakeland, and Katie Dedmon of Brownsville (fiance, Dayton Gay); her two great-grandchildren Ben Rodgers and Evie James Dedmon; one sister, Virginia Rhea Tritt of Maury City, and many nieces and nephews that she loved so dearly.
Pallbearers for the service were Jesse Dedmon, Tracy Rodgers, Greg Rodgers, Taylor Dedmon, Dayton Gay and Jonathan Yates. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Memphis Union Mission, P.O. Box 330, Memphis, TN 38101, or a charity, or ministry of choice.
All arrangements and services are under the direction of the Lea & Simmons Funeral Home in Brownsville.
