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Patsy Nelle Harris Barnes was born September 1, 1935 in Etowah County, AL. She lived a blessed life and died peacefully in her sleep October 8, 2021.
She grew up the only child of Shirley (Tucker) and W. C. Harris in Gadsden, AL. She graduated from Gadsden High School in 1953 and went to Auburn University. She got married in college and moved to Texas where she received her bachelor’s degree from Texas State College for Women (now Texas Women’s University). After stops in Huntsville, AL and Blacksburg, VA and Knoxville, TN she returned to Auburn where her only child, son Douglas, grew up.
She received her Masters in 1965 and her PhD in 1974, both from Auburn University. She worked for AU for approximately 25 years, initially as a counselor in the Career Development Center and ultimately as the Vice President for Student Affairs. She retired in 1995 but continued to live in Auburn while she spent the next ten years working at Columbus State University. She made Madison, AL her primary residence shortly after her third grandchild was born in 2004.
GrannaPat adored her three grandkids – Isabelle, Sam, Adeline. She was a fixture at their sporting events and loved to tout and maybe even embellish their impressive accomplishments. My mom was an avid reader, a green thumb, a pet-lover, an active member of St. Matthews Episcopal Church, and a doting mother. She was also tough as nails. Her many physical setbacks and frailties were masked by an outward smile and grace and an inward belief that she was immeasurably blessed.
Her memorial service will be this Saturday, October 16 at St. Matthews, 786 Hughes Road, Madison, AL. We will have a reception with light refreshments at 1:00, and a formal church ceremony at 2:00 culminating in her interment. All events are at St. Matthews, rain or shine.
She would want me to mention and thank: her daughter-in-law Angie, Madison Hospital, Valley View Health and Rehabilitation, Merrill Gardens, Amedisys Home Health Care, Legacy Chapel Funeral Home, and St. Matthews Episcopal Church. Angie, and the personnel at those six places, were instrumental in my mom taking back control of her life and going out on a high note on her own terms.
