Dennis Charles Barnum Sr.

Graveside services for the late Dennis Charles Barnum Sr. of Allendale, SC, formerly of Americus, Ga., who passed in that city on Saturday, April 26, 2008, will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, May 2, 2008 from the Eastview Cemetery. Elder Elijah Smith will officiate and burial will follow immediately afterward. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Bethesda Baptist Church Sunday School Outreach Program, 225 Forrest St., Americus, GA 31709.Dennis Charles Barnum was born June 25, 1954 in Americus, Ga., the youngest child born to the late Mr. John Lee Barnum, Jr. and the late Mrs. Thelma Gray Barnum. His older brother, John III, lovingly known as "Bunk,” preceded him in death. Dennis was educated in the Americus City Public Schools, he was graduate in the Americus High School Class of 1974. He was among a brave few black students to intergrate the Americus City Schools in the late 1960's. Although circumstances were sometimes difficult, Dennis played basketball for the school during his final years. After graduation he attended North Carolina A and T in Greensboro, NC and later received an Associates Degree in Funeral Service from Gupton Jones Mortuary College, Atlanta, Ga. in 1986. He was a Licensed Funeral Director for the State of Georgia for several years. For many years, Dennis worked in his family's century old business, Barnum Funeral Home, Inc. At an early age, he joined generations of Barnums as a member of the Historic Campbell Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church. It was there, under the pastorate of Rev. Karl Colquitt, that he married the former Miss Belinda Elaine Tennyson in 1980. It was also there that Dennis and Belinda raised their only son, Dennis Charles Barnum Jr. Dennis inherited his mother's love of the out of doors and became an avid fisherman. He lived his final days near the water in Allendale, South Carolina with his long time companion, Katherine Gray, fishing. It is our deepest prayer that he has found peace and a good fishing hole that he shares with Daddy, Mama and Bunk.He leaves to mourn his passing, his son, Dennis Jr. and wife Shandias Barnum, Denver, Colo.; his sister, Lorena Barnum Sabbs and husband Darrell Americus, Ga.; his companion of several years, Katherine Gray, and her family, Allendale, SC; his former wife, Belinda Barnum, Buena Vista, Ga.; one half-sister, Yvonne (James) Butler, Mobile, Ala.; six half-brothers, Warren (Carol) Wright, Gary (Subrina) Daniels, James Lawrence (Patricia) Davis all of Americus, Ga.; Abdula Muhammad and James Kelly; two aunts, Imogene Roberts and Emma Gray; a brother of the heart, Johnny Hutchins, Dixon, Mo.; his mother-in-law, Mrs. Louise Tennyson, Buena Vista, Ga.; five sisters-in-law, Mary (Charles) Coffin, Beverlyn (Edward) Ellison, Cassandra (Clyde) Harris, Martha Barnum and Ann Barnum; many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, including devoted cousins, Billi Jo Allen, Raydell and Jessie Scaggs, Saundra and Albert Gray, Gail and Gary Waters, Punkin and Ralph Jr.; great nieces and nephews, other relatives, including extended family and devoted friends in Americus and Allendale, and every place he has lived over the years, also survive.Barnum Funeral Home will be in charge of these arrangements. For more information, visit the website at www.barnumfuneralhome.com.