2023 24 Black Pages FINAL 2 - Flipbook - Page 89
Memorial Tribute to...
William “Bill” Barnes Obit
November 23, 1935 - August 21, 2023
William “Bill” Thomas Barnes, Jr., son of William Thomas Barnes, Sr., and Mrs. Hattie
Davis Barnes, born in Macon, Georgia on November 23, 1935. Bill known as “Junior”
to his family was the youngest and only boy of three children. He was fun loving. At
an early age he became a Christian and worked throughout his life in the church
he loved Bethel CME Church. He departed life on August 21, 2023.
Bill graduated from Ballard Hudson High School (1953). At Ballard Hudson Bill
met Sheila Eleanor Sheftall and they later joined in marriage June 14, 1958. They
shared many happy and exhilarating years together. He received a Bachelor of
Arts degree from Morehouse College (1957). At Morehouse he joined Alpha Phi
Alpha, Fraternity. Bill later received master’s degrees from Fort Valley State College
(University) and the University of Georgia. Bill began his storied work career as an
educator at L. H. Williams Elementary School. Bill later worked at Macon Technical
School (Central Georgia Technical College) before returning to the Bibb County
School district as principal at Eugenia Hamilton Elementary. Bill subsequently
transitioned from education to becoming a congressional aid for Congressman Billy
Evans in 1976. Bill returned to Macon and became Executive Director of the Middle
Georgia Consortium, he was elected Chairman of the Macon Bibb County Hospital
Authority for the Medical Center of Central Georgia (Atrium Navicent), served as
the Director of Marketing and Business Development of CENTRA Management
Services (MCCG). His last career stop was with Central Georgia Technical College
thereby ending his career in education as it began.
Bill was a founding member of the Committee for Political Awareness, aka the
“Cotton Avenue Mafia.” The Mafia provided guidance, financial support, advice,
strategic planning, and influence to scores of local, state, and national political
hopefuls.
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