William Sewell Barnes
Born February 14, 1934 and died March 31, 2026
“About our Daddy” and Mary Catherine’s Husband
With heavy heart, an attempt to give praise and due respect, to the “greatest memory” of the man in our lives we called “Daddy” and the grandkids called Pa! Having lived 92 years upon this earth, he attended school at Irving College – in the northern part of Warren County, TN. A nursery man by trade, we saw him work extra hard alongside his father (William Rice Barnes) and mother (Willie Marie Martin-Barnes).
Tall and lanky – well known to many of the locals by “The Lawyer”. Our daddy had a keen sense for business, he read a lot, and learned much gave a lot. He attended church at Armstrong Church of Christ. The land upon which it stood plus the graveyard was donated by his great grandfather William Henry Barnes.
At the time when he was in the nursery, Warren County was known as “the nursery capital of the world”! The land was rich in soil which at the time nursery’s all over south, east, west, and north Warren County in Tennessee. His Irving College “entourage” included James Milstead, “Pee Wee” Hill, and very few others!
We moved family to Mt. Leo, where he served as an elder for many years. When our daddy prayed, whether at home or over a meal, he always prayed for the widows and the orphans. Standing by his prayers, he gave the widows and orphans home not only in Warren County but others also.
He married his sweetheart Mary Catherine Yates. She worked along side him in the nursery. Later on, when he retired, he used his talents in many other ways! Our daddy was an honest man, he never forgot his up-bringing, working hard, day and night, in the packing barn he built (or had built) behind our home. He spent many evening hours on the front porch of our neighbor’s home Haskell and Belle Madewell.
To those of you who knew him well, we want to thank you for your time. We will always be grateful! Thank you to all the people who brought food, paid him visits while he was sick and in need. He will always be in our hearts and always in our minds! Live on knowing he is in peace now with his Heavenly Father!
Survivors include his wife Mary Catherine Yates Barnes, son William Gene Barnes, daughter-in-law Susan O’Neal Barnes, daughter Gloria Gayle Barnes Yates, son-in-law Tommy L. Yates, grandson William Cortney Yates (Anna), grandson Jacob Barnes, granddaughter Miranda (Brandon) Raper, great grandchildren Avery Lansford, William Carter, and Francis Sullivan all from Florida, and nieces and nephews Bobby Jean Coleman, Mary Marie Tucker, Joyce Nickens, Holly Land, and Hope Jones.
He is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Myrtle Jean Prince and Evelyn Sullivan, brother Leslie Barnes, nephews Clarence Barnes and Darrel Barnes, niece Bobby Jean Coleman, and his grandson who is “so missed” Brandon Yates.
Graveside service and interment for Mr. Sewell Barnes is scheduled for 1:00 P.M. Friday, April 03, 2026 at Armstrong Cemetery. Bro. Trent Key will officiate. Friends will meet the family at Armstrong Cemetery as there will be no public visitation at the funeral home.
McMinnville Funeral Home is honored to be of service for Mr. Sewell Barnes.
