Edward Wayne Barnett

Edward Wayne Barnett passed away Friday, October 23, 2009, at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He was born on April 18, 1950 in Botetourt County. He was predeceased by his grandparents, Edward Warren Barnett and Ianthia Girty Barnett; his parents, Howard Edward and Flora Jackson Barnett; his sister, Betty Lou Barnett Smith; and his brother-in-law, Edgar James Smith. Surviving are his sister, Judith Carolyn Barnett, Fincastle, Va.; his nieces, Commander Elissa Janena Smith, Alexandria, Va., Erin Jannette Smith, Roanoke, Va.; and the extended Barnett and Girty family.
Eddie attended Academy Hill School, Central Academy School and James River High School. Eddie was the first African-American student to attend James River High School in 1966. He graduated in 1968 as salutatorian of his class. Eddie received his undergraduate degree in 1972 from the University of Virginia School of Architecture. During his time at UVA he worked the summers at Lone Star Cement Plant (now Roanoke Cement Company). He received a Master's Degree from the Harvard School of Design in Boston, Mass. In 1973 he was named a Walter F. Bogner Scholar in Architecture. Before joining the Peace Corps, where he spent two years as a volunteer in Ghana, West Africa where he served as the architect for the city of Accra, he worked for Hayes, Seay, Mattern and Mattern. When he returned from Africa, he went to work for Ellis, Ricket & Associates in Valdosta, Ga., where he became an associate of that firm. He has worked for firms in Beckley, W.Va. and Richmond, Va. before returning home to start his own firm, Barnett Company. Eddie has worked the past few years with RRMM in Roanoke, Va. as an architect and was working there when he became ill. His first love has always been architecture even before he even knew what it was. He has said on a number of occasions "I don't know how I got interested in it, I just remember as a kid drawing sketches of houses. It's what I always wanted to do."
Eddie was a member of Lily of the Valley Baptist Church. Special thanks is extended to the wonderful doctors, nurses, nurse assistants and staff who all gave such loving care to Eddie. A service celebrating Eddie's life will be held Tuesday, October 27, 2009, at 2 p.m. led by the Rev. Richard Ronk at Rader Funeral Home Chapel, 630 Roanoke Road, Daleville. Interment will follow at Lily of the Valley Baptist Church. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the funeral service. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in memory of Eddie to the Fincastle Rescue Squad, P. O. Box 605, Fincastle, Va. 24090 or Fincastle Fire Department, Fincastle, Va. 24090. Arrangements by Rader Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Daleville, Va.