Doris Lacy Barnes

Graveside Services for Mrs. Doris Lacy Barnes, age 94, will be held at Legion Memorial Cemetery in Newellton, Louisiana on Saturday, May 23, 2020 at 10:00 A.M. with the Reverend John Mabray officiating under the direction of Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home.

“Miss” Doris died Sunday, May 17, 2020, in Vicksburg, Mississippi. She was born August 24, 1925 in Castor, LA, the oldest daughter of the late Sallie Williams Lacy and John Lenard Lacy (Mr. Len). She graduated with honors from Castor High School where she excelled in basketball and English. During her junior and senior year of high school, she was a key member of the Castor Debate team and was mentored by the legendary educator Dr. E. R. Minchew, who later became the head of the Speech Department at Louisiana Tech University. Doris was a graduate of Louisiana Tech University where she became the first president of Phi Mu Sorority. It was here that she met her husband, a young sailor from Pocatello, Idaho who was enrolled in the V-12 Navy College Officer Training program. She married Orrice Russell Barnes on June 15, 1947 and made Newellton, Louisiana their home. Here they became fixtures in the community for 50 years as owners and operators of Barnes Western Auto. She was involved in many civic endeavors ranging from Cub Scout Den Mother to the President of the Library Board of Tensas Parish. In addition, she was elected several times President of the Newellton Garden Club and President of the Newellton High School PTA, played bridge once a week, and worked at the Western Auto - all while raising a family. She was a devoted member of the Newellton Union Church serving as church treasurer for most of her adult life.

One of Doris’ greatest passions in life was education. This passion had been passed down from her great grandfather, Mr. William H. Lacy, a graduate of Washington University (now Washington and Lee) and a pioneer educator in Bienville parish after the Civil War. She later channeled this passion into the Tensas Parish Library after her children graduated from Newellton High School. She served on the library board for many years and was honored in 2010 by the Louisiana Library Association with the Modisette Citation of Merit Award for her years of service to public libraries in Louisiana.

She loved flower arranging and sports, but she loved her family and friends in Newellton the most. She never missed a game of baseball, football, basketball, or any other sport her two sons played. Many times she would carry half of the Little League baseball team or Jr High Basketball team in her station wagon to the games. After her husband died in 1996, she sold the Western Auto and continued a personal shopper business out of her home. She enjoyed fellowship at the Church and the company of her lifelong friends in this special community until her move to Vicksburg a few years ago.

Other family members preceding her in death include her son, William Anderson Barnes, and her sister Carolyn Lacy Carrow.

Survivors include two sons, Dr. John Russell Barnes and wife Kim of Vicksburg, Dr. David Lacy Barnes and wife Carolyn of Monroe; grandchildren Sally Barnes Southall (Michael), Jennings Barnes, Martha Claire Barnes, Dr. David L. Barnes Jr., Brigitte Barnes Trego(Austin), step-grandchildren Katrina Smith(Matt) and Aubrey Shirley; two great grandchildren; and sister Billie Lacy Ainsworth and husband Bill.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Nathan O. Kifer, Jr., Murray Greer, Jr., Frank R. Burnside, Jr. ,Edwin Preis, Jr., Phil Preis, Jack P. Mabry, Jr., W.E. (Skip) Hawkins, Jr., and Curt Leake.

Memorials may be made to the Newellton Union Church.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Doris Lacy Barnes, please visit our floral store.