Mrs. Magnolia Moore Barnes
Obituary

The late Magnolia Moore Barnes enter into eternal rest on Friday, August 11, 2023
at 1:20 a.m. at Maryview Hospital after an illness.

Magnolia Moore Barnes is the matriarch of the Moore Family, which consisted of 7 sisters and 3 brothers. She is the daughter of the late Booker T. Moore and Armelda Nalls Moore. Magnolia was born on August 30, 1927, in Holmes County in Cruger, Mississippi. On August 11, 2023, she peacefully made her transition to be with the Lord.
Education.
Growing up in Mississippi, Magnolia attended Cruger Elementary School, in Cruger, Mississippi, Sidon Industrial High School, in Sidon, Mississippi, and Aggie High School in Clarksdale, Mississippi. She continued her education at Alcon College (now Alcon State University) where she majored in music (voice), becoming a classically trained Lyric Soprano. Magnolia was industrious and also minored in Accounting.
Later she attended Norfolk State College (now Norfolk State University), in Norfolk, Virginia where she majored in Elementary Education.
Magnolia’s job, Smith & Welton Department Store, sent her to school for Interior Decorating.
Work.
Magnolia’s professional experience includes sales, merchandising, and interior decorating. Magnolia worked at Smith & Welton Department Store for more than 20 years, becoming the Manager of Linens and Home Furnishings. The store sent her to school for Interior Decorating.
Before becoming a Sales Clerk and moving up to become a Manager, Magnolia work in the store’s Beauty Salon as a cleaning lady. Unbeknownst to the stores management, Magnolia did the accounting and book keeping for the Beauty Salon.
When Sales Clerk positions opened up for African Americans in the 1960s, the Beauty Salon Manager, Mrs. Nixie Dees, informed management that Magnolia did the all of the accounting and book keeping for the Salon. This information helped Magnolia move up into a position as one of the stores new African American Sales Clerks.
Music.
Magnolia began singing solos at the age of 5. She was a member of the Meeks Chapel Baptist Church in Mississippi where she sang in the Junior Choir and later the Senior Choir.
As a music major as at Alcon College, Magnolia sang with the College Choir while fine tuning her classical vocal training.
Magnolia was a member of the Virginia Opera Guild (formed by Mrs. Christine Davis – 1963) and was a leading soprano soloist.
For 10 years, Magnolia was President of the Senior Choir at Mt. Hermon Baptist Temple and was one of the principle soprano soloist in the choir.
Magnolia began her solo concert series (1970s, 1978, 1979, 1980) while a member of Mt. Hermon Baptist Temple. With her accompanist, Delbert K. Lofton, Magnolia performed spirituals and sacred music at churches in the Hampton Roads area. To enhance the concert series experience, Magnolia invited members of the Mt. Hermon Baptist Temple Senior Choir to sing with her. The group Magnolia created became The Temple Chorale. Magnolia and this 12 member Chorale traveled and performed spirituals and sacred music for several seasons.
Magnolia enjoyed singing and for many years participated in the Hampton University Minister’s Conference Choir (200 + voice choir).
When Magnolia joined Third Baptist Church, she also joined the Sanctuary Choir. She sang with the Sanctuary Choir until age 88.
On her 80th birthday, Magnolia sang in the home of her idle, Marion Anderson (In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). Mrs. Blanch Burton-Lyles, Mrs. Anderson’s protégé, played Mrs. Anderson’s baby grand piano as Magnolia sang.

Church and Missionary Service.
Ebenezer Baptist Church – Portsmouth, Virginia.
Upon getting married in 1945 to Portsmouth native Roy Lee Barnes, and moving to Portsmouth, Virginia, Magnolia joined Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Mt. Hermon Baptist Temple – Portsmouth, Virginia.
Magnolia joined Mt. Hermon in 1947 and was a member for 61 years. Early on she became:
MEMBER of the Ladies Usher Board #2.
MEMBER of the Berean Bible Sunday School.

As Magnolia continued her church work and people recognized her talents, she became:
CO-CHAIRPERSON of the General Committee for church’s 90th Anniversary.
CHAIRPERSON of Publicity for the church’s 92nd Anniversary.
PRESIDENT of the Mt. Hermon Baptist Temple Senior Choir for 10 years.
GUESS SPEAKER for Women’s Day services.
CHAIRMAN of Women’s Day services.
MEMBER of the Elizabeth Boone Missionary Society for 46 years.
PRESIDENT of the Elizabeth Boone Missionary Society for 7 years. Magnolia and her officers also organized the Youth Missionary Group.
COORDINATOR of the Mission Ministry Bereavement/Benevolent Committee.
MEMBER of the Flower Ministry.

Third Baptist Church – Portsmouth, Virginia.
Magnolia is currently a member of Third Baptist Church.

Magnolia is currently:
MEMBER of the A. B. Mason Missionary Ministry.
Ist VICE PRESIDENT (previously) of the A. B. Mason Missionary Ministry.
MEMBER of the Wednesday Noon Day Prayer Ministry.
MEMBER of the Men/Centennial Sunday School Class.
MEMBER of the Sanctuary Choir.

Mission.
Magnolia’s “first love” was the Mission Ministry. She spearheaded a drive for the Franklin, Virginia flood victims with a committee from all of the state of Virginia. She loved people and dedicated her life to Mission work and would readily speak her mind to ensure a great outcome.

Past mission positions held by Magnolia included:
JUNIOR PRESIDENT of the State General Baptist Convention in Mississippi while growing up in Mississippi.

Tidewater Baptist Women’s Missionary & Educational Convention.
1st VICE PRESIDENT of Tidewater Baptist Women’s Missionary & Educational Convention.
PRESIDENT of Tidewater Baptist Women’s Missionary & Educational Convention. Magnolia visited each of the 54 area churches, and convinced inactive members to participate in mission again. Under her administration, the Mary Agnes Jordan Scholarship Fund was founded. She also organized a luncheon, with proceeds from the luncheon benefitting the scholarship fund. Three students, studying the field of religion, receive scholarship fund assistance for four years. The luncheon celebrated its 28th year October of 2022 and honors Presidents and Past Presidents of Tidewater Baptist.
CHAIRPERSON of the President’s Advisory Committee.
CHAIRPERSON of the Nominating Committee.
CHAIRPERSON of the Convention Choir.
COLLABORATOR on the History of the Tidewater Baptist Women’s Missionary & Educational Convention (several volume history).

Baptist General Convention.
MEMBER of Baptist General Convention.
DELEGATE to the Baptist General Convention
SPECIAL PROJECT COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON for the D. O. W. Baptist General Convention.
BOARD MEMBER of the Baptist General Convention.

Lott Carey.
MEMBER of Lott Carey.
DELEGATE to the Lott Carey Convention.
CHAIRPERSON of the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Week of Prayer.

Grand United Order of Oddfellows of America and Jurisdiction.
The Grand United Order of Oddfellows (G.U.O.O.F.) of America and Jurisdiction is a free mason’s organization with 7 different groups. Magnolia knew the rules and rituals associated with the G.U.O.O.F. and could quote Roberts Rules of Orders in a heartbeat.
In her more than 62 years of membership, offices held by Magnolia included:
MEMBER of Household of Ruth #5927 for more than 55 years.
MEMBER of the Grand Patriarchy.
DISTRICT GRAND SUPERVISOR of the Juvenile Society (youth group) for 18 years.
SECRETARY of The West Jordan Memorial Scholarship Fund for 24 years.
PRESIDENT/COORDINATOR of the Virginia Travel Club for 25 years. Magnolia and the Travel Club arranged trips to New Orleans, Louisiana, New York, New York and many other places. Every two years, Magnolia met with her Travel Agent and arranged the travel accommodations for all state of Virginia G.U.O.O.F. members attending the group’s Bi-Movable Convention (BMC). The BMC is always held in a different U. S. state or in the Bahamas every two years.
DISTRICT GRAND DIRECTRESS for Virginia, Magnolia organized and implemented the first School of Instruction in the state of Virginia. The School of Instruction ensured that each Virginia Household of Ruth consistently conducted business the same way.
ORGANIZER of Hospitality Club #44 of the G.U.O.O.F.
DISTRICT GRAND MOST NOBLE GOVERNOR (1977) of the Household of Ruth for the state of Virginia for 6 years. Magnolia traveled all over the state of Virginia conducting the School of Instruction on the weekends. Under her administration, the major fund raiser for the state of Virginia, “The Red and White Ball Extravaganza” was organized and held in February of each year.
GRAND HOUSEHOLD APPOINTEE serving as the Worthy Grand Shepard and then serving as the Worthy Grand Chamberlain for a total of 10 years.
CO-DIRECTOR of Area #2 for 7 years. Magnolia’s jurisdiction included North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland.
MOST WORTHY CHIEF GRAND RULER of the Grand Chamber (1985) serving in this role for 19 years. Magnolia organized 22 Chambers and reactivated 13 Chambers in the United States. She traveled to London, England in the United Kingdom to reactivate one Chamber. She traveled to Amsterdam, Holland in the Netherlands to reactivate another Chamber. Magnolia traveled to the Bahamas and organized a Chamber. Her jurisdiction included the United States, Europe, and the Islands.
MOST WORTHY GRAND SUPERIOR of the Grand Household of Ruth for 6 years. Magnolia held the highest office in the Household. Again, Magnolia’s jurisdiction (for this separate group in the organization), included the United States, Europe, and the Islands with more than 5,000 House of Ruth members.
MOST WORTHY GRAND SUPERIOR EMERITUS of the Grand Household of Ruth. Magnolia is the only person to ever receive this honored title.
Awards.
For her hard work and tireless efforts, Magnolia received many honors, award, and acknowledgements.

Mt. Hermon Baptist Temple.
Dr. O. C. Jones Memorial Award for dedicated church service.
Dedicated Service for work with the Youth Fellowship.
Outstanding and Dedicated Service for work within Mt. Hermon Baptist Temple.

Tidewater Baptist Women’s Missionary and Educational Convention.
Dedicated Service as Chairperson of the Choir Committee.
Dedicated Service for work with the Youth Department.
Dedicated Service as Choir Chairman, Historical & Advisory Ministry.
Dedicated Service to Tidewater Baptist Women’s Missionary and Educational Convention.

Grand United Order of Oddfellows of America and Jurisdiction.
Loyal and Dedicated Service to the Grand Chamber.
Outstanding Effort for work with the Booster Group of sub-District #7.
Dedication and Service for work with District Lodge #7 and District Household #10.
Unselfish Devotion & Distinguished Service as Co-Director of Area II Concept.
Liberty Bell given by the Committee of Management of the G.U.O.O.F. on the 10th anniversary of Magnolia being the Most Worthy Chief Grand Ruler.

Travel.
Magnolia traveled to 36 of the lower 48 states in the United States, and Hawaii thanks to membership in the Grand United Order of Oddfellows of America and Jurisdiction, membership in the Missionary Society (Tidewater Baptist, Baptist General Convention, and Lott Carey), and family vacations.
International Travel – membership in the Grand United Order of Oddfellows of America and Jurisdiction gave Magnolia travel experiences in Freeport, Bahamas; Nassau, Bahamas; Montreal, Canada; Ontario, Canada; Amsterdam, Holland, The Netherlands (2 times); Brussels, Belgium; London, England, The United Kingdom (3 times); Germany; Paris, France; and Switzerland.

Family.
Magnolia is predeceased by her husband of 64 years, Roy L. Barnes, her sisters Thelma Ware, Ruth Kirkwood, Mary Alice Goodson, and her brother John Henry Moore. Magnolia is survived by a daughter, Deborah Barnes-Middleton (Gerald), her sisters LueBertha Robinson, Naomi Hemphill, Annie Lloyd Jackson, Alberta Alma T. Whitt, and her brothers Booker T. Moore, and William Moore along with and many cousins, 31 nieces and nephews, great nieces, great nephews, family members, and friends