Rev. William L. Barnes

Rev. William L (Bill) Barnes

Nashville, TN

Bill Barnes, minister and civil rights activist, lifelong advocate for social justice and affordable housing died Monday, August 21, 2017 at age 86. Survived by his wife of 37 years, Brenda Barnes; son Timothy Barnes (Virginia), daughters Amy Barnes and Elizabeth Holden (Rob). Grandsons, Matthew Barnes, Vincent Barnes and Andrew Holden; sister Jane Boles of Nashville, brother Tom Barnes (Pattye) of Knoxville, nieces Karen Boles of Nashville, Mary Beth Maddox (Bill) of Knoxville, nephew Tommy Barnes (Heather) of Chicago; mother of Tim, Amy and Elizabeth, Julie Russell of Nashville. Preceded in death by parents, Clarence and Nell Barnes, and sister, Juanita Barnes.

Bill was a native of Nashville and attended Fall, Eakin, Cavert, and West End High Schools. He graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1957 and Yale University Divinity School in 1959. He served in the Huntland Circuit and at Carroll Street Methodist Church before becoming the founding pastor of Edgehill United Methodist Church in 1966 where he remained until retirement in 1996. Edgehill was Nashville's first significantly integrated congregation. He taught various courses at Scarritt College and Vanderbilt Divinity School and was a member of several boards of the United Methodist Conference as well as the Metro Action Commission, Council of Community Services, Metro Social Services, Metro Transit Authority, Tennessee Council of Human Relations, Nashville Organized for Action and Hope, Neighborhood Resource Center, Project Return and A VOICE for the Reduction of Poverty. He served as advisor for countless other organizations which champion the rights of the poor and marginalized.

Among his many and various accomplishments, perhaps the most impressive and most important is his work in establishing a housing trust fund to build more affordable housing units in the Nashville area for working families. This fund is now a reality and is named in his honor: The Barnes Fund for Affordable Housing. He was a true minister of the people and never shied away from unpopular causes, provided they were just causes. He was an instrumental figure in Nashville's civil rights movement in the 1960s and his voice was one of compassion and justice as he spoke on behalf of those whose voices and stories are seldom heard. He published a book in 2007 "To Love a City," that chronicles his ministry in the Edgehill community. He received many awards over the years including the Community Nashville Humanitarian Award in 2016.

In the last years of his life his major focus was on three projects: Project Return (co-founder); O.N.E./Barnes Scholarship Fund (founder) and Affordable Housing.

Bill had a genuine loving, strong spirit and considered every human being a Child of God, a sign and wonder. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 2, at Belmont United Methodist Church with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the O.N.E./Barnes Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 128261, Nashville, TN 37212 or Project Return, 806 Fourth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37210.