Reba Virginia Minter Humphries Barnes passed away August 4, 2024 at the age of 97. Reba was born February 9, 1927 to Flaudy Rufus and Lillie Parker Minter in Falkville, Al in the family home, which had neither indoor plumbing nor electricity. She graduated as Valedictorian of Falkville High School in 1945 and a week later, hopped on a train to The University of Alabama.
In 1948, she married David “Buck” Ramon Humphries, Jr. In 1952, Buck died after a brief illness and Reba was left a widow with an 18 month old son. She returned to the University of Alabama to complete her degree in Music Education and begin a Masters Degree at Vanderbilt University. She taught in Birmingham, Al until she married Wilder Ernest Barnes in 1957. In 1959, they moved to Arlington, Virginia, for Wilder to work in railroad safety for the Federal Government. Reba became a full time homemaker, raising her 3 children and enthusiastically leading many of their activities. She was heavily involved in community volunteer work including early ESL classes for Vietnam refugees. Reba was always heavily involved in church activities, particularly children’s and women’s ministries, holding several leadership roles.
When Wilder retired in 1982, they moved to Decatur, Alabama and they joined Central Baptist Church where Reba, again, jumped headfirst into multiple church related community volunteer activities. She and Wilder enjoyed traveling. Reba has been to all 50 states and approximately 53 countries. She loved to study history and culture of every place they visited. During Reba’s travels she may or may not have pocketed various artifacts along the way. Wilder passed away in 2005 and Reba maintained her active lifestyle including more trips around the globe with her children, grand children, and great grandsons.
In 2019, at age 92, she moved to Madison, Alabama, close to her daughter into a senior living complex. She remained active and was the reigning Wii bowling champion until shortly before her move to memory care in 2024.
Reba is preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, her brothers Elbert Josiah Minter and Richard Gerry Minter, two sisters Martha Minter Templeton, and Marie Minter Randall. She was also preceded by one son David Glen (Humphries) Barnes, and one daughter in law Lynn Nohara Barnes.
She is survived by one sister Lilly Jane Minter (Padgett) William, one daughter Julia Virginia Barnes Anderson (Fred G, “Biff”), and one son Samuel Wilder Barnes, plus four grandchildren Rebecca Anderson Hampton (Robertson), Kathryn Grant Anderson, Benjamin Wilder Anderson (Paisley), Curtis Wilder Barnes, and two great grandsons Miles Parker-Allen Hampton and Reid Robertson Hampton as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
No funeral is planned, the family will have a private graveside service at Herring Cemetery in Morgan County, Alabama.
In lieu of flowers please contribute to your favorite charity or the Alabama Children’s Home.
Peck Funeral Home
