James and Margaret Barnes

Professor James Elbert Barnes, Ph.D. ("Eb"), and his wife of 38 years, Margaret McAdory Melton Barnes (known as "Maggie" to her friends), died of gunshot wounds inflicted during a bank robbery in Greer Friday afternoon, May 16, 2003.

Eb was born in Kingsport, Tenn., June 5, 1942. He graduated from King College in Bristol, Tenn., where he met Margaret when he was a senior and she was a freshman. They were married in 1965. Eb received a Master of Teaching Arts degree from Vanderbilt University and a Ph.D. in Physics from Clemson University. Eb taught Physics at the University of South Carolina, Spartanburg, for 28 years. He also served twice as Interim Dean of USC-Spartanburg. Most recently, Eb headed the Academic Programs Office at the University Center of Greenville, a consortium of seven higher-education institutions. Three of the police officers who arrived at the crime scene in Greer were Eb's former students. During winter commencement ceremonies, Eb, who had a long gray beard, was known for wearing a Santa Claus hat with his academic robes.

Margaret ("Maggie") was born in Bristol, Va., Aug. 19, 1944. She grew up in West Virginia, where her father was a Presbyterian minister. In 1965, Margaret's father became pastor of Bethesda Presbyterian Church in McConnells, S.C., and that is where she and Eb were married. Margaret attended King College and Katharine Gibbs School in New York. Shortly after she was married, Margaret found a flax spinning wheel in the attic of her great-grandparents' farmhouse in Alabama. This led to a career as a spinner and weaver. Margaret sold spun and woven goods at craft fairs throughout the Southeast. Margaret and Eb also gave demonstrations, in period costume, of traditional Carolina "blackwork" and weaving in the local schools. Margaret had worked for 10 years with National Beta Club of Spartanburg.

Margaret and Eb had three children, all of whom graduated from Boiling Springs High School. Katherine ("Katie") is married to Robby May, also of Spartanburg. They live in New Bern, N.C., with their four children. James Richard ("Dick"), and his wife, Holly, live in Spartanburg, where he teaches at Spartanburg Day School and plays the tuba with Converse Brass Ensemble. Holly teaches piano at Converse College. Elizabeth ("Beth") is a graduate of Agnes Scott College and the University of Iowa. She is married to Greg Davis and lives with their two sons in Wilmington, N.C.

Eb was the son of Agnes King Barnes and the late Ralph Hawk Barnes, of Blountville, Tenn. He is also survived by his two brothers, George K. Barnes, of Blountville, Tenn., and John H. Barnes, of Nashville, Tenn.; and a sister, Martha B. Sabin, of Knoxville, Tenn.

Margaret was the daughter of the Rev. Roger P. Melton and the late Alice Caldwell Melton, of Georgetown, Ga. She is also survived by two brothers, Roger P. Melton Jr., of Gastonia, N.C., and Lawrence C. Melton, of Columbia.

Eb and Maggie were members of Second Presbyterian Church in Spartanburg.

Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today, May 20, 2003, at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 21, 2003, at First Presbyterian Church of Spartanburg, conducted by the Rev. Steven H. Rhodes.

The family respectively requests that flowers be omitted, and memorials be made, to Mobile Meals Service, P.O. Box 461, Spartanburg, SC 29304.

'THE LORD GIVETH. AND THE LORD TAKETH AWAY. BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD."

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Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel