Benjamin Uriah Barnett, Sr.

Husband, Father, Brother, Friend, Deacon, Servant, Coach, Veteran, Neighbor, Man of Faith.

Our beloved, Benjamin Uriah Barnett, Sr., departed this earthly life peacefully, surrounded by family and friends on January 3, 2023, at the age of 79.

Along with a host of family, and friends, Ben is survived and missed by his loving wife Laverne of almost 50 years; his four children and their spouses: son, Benjamin Uriah Barnett, Jr. of Atlanta, GA (Tammi); son, Brian Barnett of Atlanta, GA (Keisha); daughter, Cynthia Barnett of Waldorf, MD; daughter, Bonita Ward of Landover, MD (Dale); sister Mildred Williams of Philadelphia, PA (Freddie); sister-in-law, Karen Smith of Roanoke, VA (Harry); brother-in-law, John ‘Chucky’ Valentine of Charleston, WV (Pam); a nephew who was like a son, Daniel Gaines of Garner, NC (Barbara); and a host of nieces and nephews.

Ben will be forever cherished in memory by his nine grandchildren: Kezia Powell (spouse-Donnell), Peyton Barnett, Benjamin U. Barnett, III (Trey), Jaimena Wheel, Jordan Barnett, Kendall Ward, Brian Barnett Jr., Kameron Ward, and Bricen Barnett.  Ben was even blessed to see his two great-grandchildren:  Yahsyn McKee (great-grandson) and Zuri Powell (great-granddaughter) whom he affectionately called “Big Bit” and “Lil Bit” respectively.

Ben was predeceased by father Jesse Uriah Barnett, mother Gertrude Barnett, and first wife Barbara Valentine Barnett.

Born in Fincastle and raised in Covington, VA, Benjamin found his spiritual roots early in life at Lily of the Valley Baptist Church in Fincastle, VA.  After graduating High School, he would attend Bluefield State College, in West Virginia where he became a 60 year member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Later, he would serve his country as a soldier in the U.S. Army.  Ben worked 30+ years in the telecom industry and was the first black coin collector in the state of Virginia.  He retired from Verizon at the age of 58. 

Although working hard at his career, serving the Church was a priority in Ben’s life.  He served as deacon at Lily of the Valley Baptist Church for many years and simultaneously served and supported Hill Street Baptist Church in various capacities for 50+ years.  Outside of work and church, Ben became the first athletic coach for his children and their friends.  Many of those children, now adults, still call him Coach Ben.  Ben was dedicated to the Lord, the Church, his family and friends, and serving whomever he encountered in his life’s journey.  

We will miss his nuggets of wisdom and advice about life.  We will miss the way he made us feel special, valued and loved.  We will miss his unique mix of humor and humility.  Most of us can think back to a day or time when Ben made us feel like we were the most important person on earth. Love, service, and hard work became Ben’s mantra for living, and we all became beneficiaries of his simple and effective example of living.

Ben met the celebrations and challenges of life with both joyfulness and humility and now gets to be welcomed by God into his kingdom of everlasting life.

Ben, you will be greatly missed until we see you again in Glory.

We love you ALWAYS!

A funeral service will be held Friday, January 13, 2023, 11:00AM at Hill Street Baptist Church. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Friends may visit at Serenity on Thursday, January 12, 2023 from 2-5PM for viewing. Interment will be held in Lily of the Valley Church Cemetery. 

To view a live stream of the service, click here at the time of the service.