Betty Jean Barnes

ROCKY MOUNT - Betty Jean Barnes, 91, died Wednesday, September 16, 2020. She was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina on December 16, 1928 to Osmon and Thaney Bell Barnes. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Joseph Kelly Barnes, Jr.; her brother Bennett Barnes; her sister and brother-in-law Bertha Barnes Wheeless and Billy Wheeless and her son-in-law, Kit Jackson. She graduated from Rocky Mount Senior High in 1947. She met her future husband, Kelly Barnes, in October of 1946 and they were married on June 18, 1948. They were married for 63 years until Kelly's death in 2011. Jean loved to read and was seen at Braswell Library weekly. She loved to play bridge and visit with her family. After raising five children and helping with her grandchildren she worked for many years beside her husband at their family business Kelly's Cleaners. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She is survived by her four daughters and sons-in-law-Bett Barnes Jackson and Melissa Barnes Barker and her husband John, both of Rocky Mount; Amy Barnes McCotter and her husband, Pat of Vandemere; Mary Barnes Zahran and her husband, Sam of Fayetteville; one son and daughter-in-law, Ben and Tina Barnes of Rocky Mount. To her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was known as Baby Jean. She leaves behind ten grandchildren - Joey, Clay, Adam, Anne, Emily, Taylor, Kathleen, Amy, Kelly, and Jon - and eleven great-grandchildren-Ian, Haylee, Mason, Barnes, Gus, Eleanor, Peter, Baker, AnnaJean, Worth and Bennett. The family wishes to thank the caring staff of Breckenridge Retirement Center and Dr. Doug Boyette and the Nash UNC Health Care Hospice staff for their devoted care. A Private Family Graveside will be held at Pineview Cemetery. A Public Celebration of Jean's Life will take place at a later date when the family can all be together. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Jean's name to Nash UNC Health Care Systems Hospice & Palliative Care, 2460 Curtis Ellis Drive, Rocky Mount or Braswell Library, 727 N. Grace Street, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. Service A Public Celebration of Jean's Life will take place at a later date when the family can all be together. Cemetery Pineview Cemetery 761 N. Raleigh Road Rocky Mount, NC 27801 A Private Family Graveside will be held at Pineview Cemetery.