Sarah Juanita Barnett

Sarah Juanita Barnett, known affectionately as Juanita by her loved ones, passed away on March 21, 2025, in Greenville, SC, at the age of 92. Born on December 23, 1932, in Washington, Georgia, Juanita was a beacon of love and generosity throughout her life, touching the hearts of all who knew her.

Juanita was the cherished wife of the late Kenneth Gwinn Barnett, and the daughter of the late Isaac Nathan Matthews and Hattie Viola Matthews. She grew up surrounded by the warmth of her family, including one sister, three brothers, and later, the joy of her own children: Gwen Abee, Brenda Miller (Dennis), Wanda Culpepper (Steve), Karen Gray, Donna Tinsley (Joe), and David Barnett. Juanita was a proud grandmother to 13 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren, who all benefited from her loving and selfless nature.

After graduating from Paris High School, Juanita dedicated her life to her family as a homemaker and worked with skillful hands as a seamstress. Her work was an expression of her meticulous care and attention to detail.

Juanita's faith was a cornerstone of her life, and she was a devoted member of Choice Hills Baptist Church. Her melodious voice graced the church choir, and her artistic touch could be seen in the beautiful flower arrangements she lovingly created for services. Her spiritual devotion was matched by her passion for life, which included decorating her home, fishing, gardening, and shopping. Each activity she undertook was infused with her tender-hearted spirit and her innate ability to make the ordinary extraordinary.

Those who knew Juanita will remember her for the love that she so freely gave and the joy she brought into their lives. She was the embodiment of generosity, always putting others before herself, and her selflessness was a lesson in kindness that will live on in her family and community.

Juanita's life was a testament to the power of love and the impact one person can have on so many. Her legacy will be carried forward in the memories of her family and in the beauty of the world she helped to create and nurture.

As we say goodbye to Juanita, we celebrate a life well-lived, full of compassion and grace. She was a guiding light, a source of comfort, and a pillar of strength for all who were blessed to know her. Juanita's love story with the world did not end with her passing; it continues in the hearts of those she touched, in the beauty of the flowers she arranged, and in the harmonies of the hymns she sang.

We take solace in knowing that Juanita is now reunited with her beloved husband, Kenneth, her daughter, Gwen Abee, and her parents, Isaac and Hattie, her siblings Jesse Lou Detterman, Robert Matthews, Donnie Matthews and Horace Matthews in eternal peace. Her spirit, a vibrant thread woven through the fabric of our lives, remains vibrant and strong, a reminder of the beauty and kindness that exist in the world.

Juanita's life will be celebrated in a service that honors her memory and the indelible mark she left on our hearts. Her story is one of love, her chapter may have ended, but her influence will continue to be felt for generations to come. We bid farewell to a remarkable woman, whose life was a gift to us all.

The family will be at Choice Hills Baptist Church, 5910 Old Buncombe Rd, Greenville, SC 29609, Wednesday, March 26th, 2025 at 12:30 PM to have visitation, memorial service at 2:00 PM followed by the burial at 3:30 PM located at Woodlawn Memorial Park.