Mae Helen Barnes

Mae Helen (Jones) Barnes  moved to Boston in 1948 from Little Rock, Arkansas.  Making the South End her new stomping grounds.  She settled in on Camden Street and worked at the Green Shoe Company on Harrison Avenue.  Later moving to Worcester Street.

She met her future husband, Isaac Barnes, at the High Hat Ballroom on Massachusetts Avenue.  In 1951 Mae and Isaac married, living a long beautiful marriage of 64 years.  They had three sons, James Isaac Barnes, Carlton Eugene Barnes and Micheal David Strain.  In the mid 60's She began working for the Boston School Department as a lunch monitor for the Hurley School and Blackstone Elementary.  Later she worked at Boston School Department Headquarters where she retired after over 50 years of service.

Mae enjoyed gardening and traveling.  She took advantage of her summers off from work and travel to places like California, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, Texas and all the New England states. 

Although Mae may be gone, she still lives on  through her family and friends.  Mae had a strong personality, a women truly not afraid to speak her mind and it is that essence of will that we should all aspire to reach.  To see the beauty in life as Mae did.  Not being afraid to stop and smell the flowers or seek out adventure as she did in her travels.

Preceded in death by her parents, Earl Jones and Hortense Robertson, husband Isaac Barnes, brother Richard Wiley, sisters Rosé Hyde & Ethel Brown.

Survived by sons, James (Hedda) Barnes, Carlton Barnes, Michael Strain, sisters-in-law, Imogene Wiley, Frances Dudley, Annie Lee Thomas, brother-in-law, Henry Barnes and the host of grandkids, great-grandkids, great-great-grandkids, nieces and nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.  
 

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