Judith “Judy” Barnes

Judith "Judy" Ann Dunn Barnes, 77, died at her home in Jackson, MS on Friday, January 16. Judy was born on October 1, 1948, at the old Baptist hospital to parents, Mae Katherine Lucy and Burris Leon Dunn, Jr.

Judy attended Forest Hill School from first through twelfth grade. From there, she was enrolled in Gilfoy Nursing School until she married, had her first daughter, and moved to Starkville, MS. After Starkville, Judy and family moved to Hilton Head, SC, where she then had her second daughter. The family ultimately returned to Jackson where Judy stepped into roles at Boyd Elementary School as PTA Leadership and Room Mother, and also briefly as Brownie Troop Leader.

As a young mother, Judy worked at the YWCA in downtown Jackson, currently the Old Capitol Inn. Judy not only performed many administrative tasks but also worked to organize numerous community enrichment opportunities. In the basement of "the Y", Judy collaborated in founding what became the Rainbow Whole Foods Cooperative. While working at the YWCA, Judy spent numerous summers wearing many hats as Director at Camp Turnage Trails, preparing meals, supervising staff, and overseeing operations.

In the early 1980's, Judy began yet another adventure when she had two more daughters. Providing a daycare in her home allowed Judy to nurture not only her own girls but many other "tater tots" for several years. At this time, Judy was an active member of Wells United Methodist Church, assisting with the annual festival WellsFest, often coordinating the children's area.

Judy's work eventually shifted to the field of home healthcare when she began working for Sta-Home Healthcare and Hospice. Beyond her work directly with her patients, she also coordinated and trained volunteers as well as offering grief groups to families of her hospice patients as well as the broader community. After Sta-Home, she worked at the Greater Jackson Foundation, now known as the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson.

Judy was confirmed into the Episcopal Church at St. Philip's in Jackson which began her vocational shift. In 2000, Judy became the Parish Administrator of Chapel of the Cross Episcopal Church in Madison. While serving at the Chapel, she delighted in the multitude of connections made with clergy and parishioners. Through their annual Day in the Country festival, she was inspired to sew and sell her handmade wares here and other markets.

Her greatest joy in ministry was being a founding member of St. Alexis' Episcopal Church in downtown Jackson. At St. Alexis, Judy served on the Mission Committee, cooked and hosted epic Maundy Thursday agape dinners, hosted Adult Coloring Club and Higher Grounds Coffeehouse. Seeing the needs of the community, Judy dreamed up and created the Circulation Day event that allowed the community an opportunity to "recycle" belongings by donating or shopping for items at no charge.

After her retirement from Chapel of the Cross in 2014, she continued serving on committees of the Diocese of Mississippi including the Executive Committee and the Racial Reconciliation Taskforce. She assisted with Anti-Racism Training Workshops and spoke to classes at Jackson State University. It was here where she began to tell her story of her experience during the Civil Rights Era. As an informant for the FBI, she aided them in taking into custody her father's acquaintances involved in instigating and inflicting racial violence. This experience informed and shaped her into being a lifelong advocate for justice and equality, a value passed on to her daughters.

Throughout her life, she spent many hours working crosswords in pen and reading thousands of books. She loved finding deals at garage sales and showing off her love of trivia at Pub Quiz. She was an animal lover who fostered and adopted enumerable strays. She found great joy in taking road trips to little Mississippi destinations, picnicking on the Natchez Trace, and exploring other Southeastern folk attractions with her daughters and their families.

Judy is preceded in death by her parents, ex-husband and father of her children Philip McKinley Barnes, and brother, Steve Dunn.

Survived by her amazing, beautiful, wise, witty daughters: Heather B. Cole (Peter) of Jackson, MS, Carrie B. Duncan (Nat) of Hattiesburg, MS, Annie B. Gallegos (Saul) of Jackson, MS, and Merry M. Barnes of Jackson, MS; her grandchildren: Eddie Cole, Charlie Cole, August Duncan, and Grant Duncan; her sister, Janet McFadden, and her brother, Larry Dunn; and her beloved pet companions.

A service to celebrate Judy's life will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 2:00pm at St. Philip's Episcopal Church, 5400 Old Canton Road, Jackson, MS. After the service, there will be a gathering in the Parish Hall. Bring your favorite Judy story to share while enjoying her classic picnic foods.

In lieu of flowers, her family would appreciate you adopting a stray pet or donating to a local animal rescue like: Rescue Revolution of Mississippi, Cheshire Abbey, or Community Animal Rescue and Adoption (CARA).