Celebration of Life, Wylene Williams Barnwell, Saturday, May 14, 2016, 11:00 A.M., Ben Hill United Methodist Church, 2099 Fairburn Road SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30331, Reverend Belinda McCastle, Associate Pastor, Officiating, Reverend Dr. Byron E. Thomas, Senior Pastor

Processional

H_ymn of Celebration "Marching To Z.ion" UMC #7))

Scriptures: The old Testament Cordell & Kendall Neel_y

Psalm91

Grandsons

The New Testament Reverend
II Timoth_y +:5-8

Rev. Dr. Paul Easle_y

Pra_yer of Comfort

Rev. Dr. Paul Easle_y

Celebration in Song

Keith Wilson

Reflections Friend Linda Kieling-Lewis Cousin Avies Chivers Stargen Nephew Harve_y Hill, IV Son Carl Barnwell Jr.

Celebration in Song

Keith Wilson

Words of Comfort

Rev. Belinda McCastle

Recessional

Repast
Baptist Garden 1901 M_yrtle Drive, SW
Atlanta, GA )0)11

W~lene Williams 5arnwell, also known as Suz.Y. Q, was born on Ma~ 5, 19+? in Roopville, Carroll
ot Count~ Georgia as the ~oungest daughter three to the late Mr. eddie George Williams and
Mrs. Agnes Williams.
Looking tor better opf?rtunities the tamil~ moved to Carrollton, Geor~a in 19+5 where W~lene
spent her childhood. She was educated at Carrollcount~ Training school and graduatedlrom
Carver High School on June 2, 1961. Her class was considered to be ver~ ambitious and "cool".
During those ~ears she loved pla~ing basketball and pla~ing the clarinet in the band. She accepted Jesus christ as her savior at the ver~ ~oung age ot seven at Mt. Zion 5aptist Church under the leadership ot the late Reverend A.M. Reeves.
W~lene was not happ~ with the r,roblems and issues in the South. She loved her tamil~ but wanted to escape segregation,so immediate!~ after graduatingfrom high school She moved to
Da~ton, ohio and lived there tor 6months. Da~ton, Ohio was still not enough tor W~lene.
On Februar~ ),1962,with dreams ot better opportunities and her taith in God,W~lene arrived in
the big cit~ ot lights "New York Cit~ She briefl~ worked at Metropolitan Lite Insurance Compan~ as wen as sever~ different banks.
During her tirst ~ears in New York she met and married Howard Reed, Jr. Out ot love and care tor each other their daughter Michelle Odetta was born. E:ven though the marriage ended,W~lene's taith in God grew stronger.
In search tor achurch home she became a member ot St. Anthon~ 5ar,tist church in 5rookl~n, New York. Under the leadership ot Reverend 5ooker T. McCullum, W~lene was part ot the Gospel choir and the director ot the Sunbeam Choir. W~lene loved attending church and credited Reverend McCullum tor teaching her to not onl~-believe in God but to walk b~ taith.
It was during aservice at St. Anthon~ that she met and later married Carl5arnwell Sr. This union was blessed with the birth ot ason Carl5arnwell Jr. W~lene believed that her son was her miracle child because he was born in spite ot several medical issues.
W~lene was forced to leave her banking career because she was having difficulties balancing work and child care. In order to create an income tor herself she took her love tor children and her understanding of the r,light of working mothers and started taking care of kids in her home. E:ach ~ear the amount ot children she cared for grew and grew.

final I~ W~lene found her passion. After atew.Years she officialI~ or,ened the "Barnwell Home Da~ Care". E:ver~ child that was taken care oFin her home was loved and nurtured as it the~ were
her ver~ own and even in her tinaIda~s W~lene remained in contact with most of the families that
she provided child care tor. She was extremel~ passionate about her da~ care and the families and children she cared tor.
While living in New York,W~lene was also a member of Salem Missionar~ Baptist Church also located in Brookl~n, New York. Under the leadership ot Rev.Thomas J.Bo~d, W~lene served as a missionar~ and chairperson of the Eugene Bo~d Circle. W~lene loved the order of service at Salem.
W~lene would alwa~s sa~ that her greatest ~ft was ~ving. She loved ever~one and wanted to take care of ever~one she met. She ~fieved that as a Christian it was her responsibilit_y to serve as a missionar~ inside and outside the church.
In 200+, due to the ailing health other mother, W~lene packed her bags,closed her da~care and left the cit~ she loved in order to return to the south to assist her sister Zelma with caring tor her mother and eventualI~ to assist with caring tor her sister.
Shejoined Ben Hill United Methodist Church but was unable tojoin man~ other organizations because her time was devoted to being the care~ver to both her mother and sister. She loved being a part ot Ben Hill because this was the church both of her sisters belonged to and were dedicated members ot the M~estic Choir.
On April 21st at approximate!~ 7am in the comfort of her home and under the care of Gentiva
Home Health,W~lene made her transition to lite eternal on the anniversar~ of the death of her big sister, Orvis!
W~lene was preceded in death b~ her father E:ddie George Williams; her mother Agnes Williams; her older sisters Orvis Hill and Zelma W~att, and her brother in law,Johnn~ Lee Thompson, Sr.
She leaves to cherish her memor_~J, her husband Carl Barnwell Sr., her beloved daughter and son in law Michelle Odetta Reed and-Ozell Neel~, her dearest son Carl Barnwell Jr.,two grandsons; Cordell and Kendell Neel~; her Godchildren;Brenda Daniels, Kenneth Thomr.son,and Roni9uee Marksman of Brookl~n, New York;tour sisters in law:Theresa Jenkins, Marval~n Holmes, E:arnestine Norman,and Linda fox,tour brothers in law:Kenneth Thompson, Bernard Thompson, Willie Thompson and Joseph fox,and a host of nieces, nephews,cousins and acountless amount ottriends!

Prett~ women wonder where m~ secret lies. I'mnot cute or built to suit afashion model'ssize
5ut when Istart to tell them,
The~ think I'mtelling lies.
I sa~ , It's in the reach of m~ arms,
The span of m~ hips, The strideof m~ step, The curlof m~ lips.
I'mawoman
Phenomenal!~
Phenomenal woman, That's me.
Iwalk into aroom
Just as cool as ~ou please,
And to aman, The fellows stand or Fall down on their knees. Then the~ swarm around me,
A hive ot hone~ bees.
Isa~ , It'sthe hre in m~ e~es, And the flash of m~ teeth, The swing in m~ waist,
And thejo~ in m~ teet.
I'mawoman
Phenomenal!~.
Phenomenal woman, That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
what the~ see in me. Th~y tr~ so much 5ut tile~ can't touch
M~ inner m~ster.y. when I tr~ to ShOW them,
The~ sa~ the~ still can't see.
I sa~ , It'sin the arch of m~ back,
The sun of m.Ysmile, The ride of O:Ybreasts,
The grace oFm~ st~le.
I'mawoman
Phenomenal!~ .
Phenomenal woman, That's me.
Now ~ou understand Just wh~ m~ head'snot bowed.
Idon't shout o~ jumP. about
Or have to talk: real loud.
when ~ou see me passing, It ought to make ~ou proud.
Isa~ , It'sin the dick of m.Y heels,
The bend of m.Yhair,
the palm of m~hand, The need tor m~ care.
'Cause I'mawoman
Phenomenal!~ .
Phenomenal woman, That 's me.

The tamil~ ot W~lene Williams Barnwell would like to thank ever~one tor their care and concern during her time ot illness. Your acts of kindness have lightened our sorrow during our
time of bereavement and tor that we are eternal!~ grateful. A special thanks to Maxine Jones, Irene SimP.son,
Linda Kieling- Lewis, Donald Lewis, Linda Smallwood, Avies Stargen and Katie Murdhaugh tor ~our love and care.
Professional Services Entrusted to: Murr ~ .E>rothers Funeral H me
JJ9 Utc:y Springs Ro d, SW
Atlanta, A 30331 (404) 349-3000