Jimmy Barnes
James “Jimmy” Barnes, 93, of Union City passed away Sunday, March 22, 2026, at his home.
Graveside services will be 1 p.m. Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Obion County Memorial Gardens with his son-in-law, Greg Smith, officiating, with the assistance of Bro. Jack Henry. There will be no visitation and friends are asked to meet at the cemetery.
Born on May 18, 1932, Jimmy spent his early years roaming the hills of Bogus Holler near Reelfoot Lake and collecting firewood for the cooking stove his momma, Alader Barnes, used daily. Some of his fondest memories included his dog, Boss, riding on his bicycle with him and how Boss knew how to herd the cows with only a verbal command. He also enjoyed when his dad hitched up the mules to ride to town because their goat would always follow.
As he was older and moved with his family to the Crystal community, he remembered, clearly, him and a friend witnessed an airplane crash near the Crystal store and how they rushed out with a rope to lasso one of the victims from the burning plane and pulled him free from the wreckage. After graduating from Dixie High School, located on Shawtown Road, he started working for Brown Shoe Company in Union City where he met Beatrice Battles, the lady he would later marry.
In the late ’50s, he began working for Williams Sausage Company from which he retired in 1997. He regularly attended the Mt. Olive Baptist Church where he was a Deacon. In his retirement, he enjoyed his grandkids, riding his 4-wheeler with his older brother, woodworking, yardwork and fixing any small appliance that broke whether his wife would rather have a new one or not.
Two months away from his 94th birthday, he spent his last days without disease or pain and was blessed to peacefully pass on to his next life in his sleep.
Mr. Barnes is survived by his son, Jimmy Layne Barnes of Trenton; daughter, DiAnne Barnes Smith (Greg) of Pleasant View; four grandchildren, Chris Barnes of Trenton, Ron Barnes (Nikki) of Trenton, Houston Smith (Chapel) of Lebanon and Ryland Smith of Clarksville; and six great-grandchildren, Jacob McCollum, Halee Flowers, Jackson Barnes, Peyton Flowers, Caden Barnes and Chloe Barnes, all of Trenton.
In addition to his wife, Beatrice Barnes, and his parents, Fred and Alader Barnes, Mr. Barnes was preceded in death by his seven siblings, Betty Crabtree, Verner Dugger, John Matt Barnes, Lacy Barnes, Vivian Clayton, Mozelle Barnes and Ada Martha Cleek.
The Messenger