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Mikal Barnes Obituary
April 3, 1939 - May 19, 2022
Mikal (Mike) Linwood Barnes, 83, born April 3rd, 1939, in Winston-Salem, transitioned on May 19, 11:40 pm at Trellis Hospice. He had suffered a stroke the previous week.
Mikal attended Northwest High School and was a member of ROTC. He graduated from Wake Forest University as a German Major and went on to do PHD studies at Cornell and Vanderbilt Universities.
Teacher, homesteader, linguist, master gardener, swimmer, football player, writer, jokester, sensitive, creative, unique human being. Playful, affectionate, nonchalant. These are a just a few of the words that described Mikal. He had a big heart for the oppressed and under-privileged. Two days before he left his body, he wanted to open a community for Ukrainian refugees. He couldn't stand by and do nothing, just watching the atrocities on his computer.
He loved going to Italy with his partner, Carmina Jenks, playing tuba in a local village Band, getting to know people, and speaking Italian. He had planned to get a Master's Degree in Italian which was to have begun in July at Middlebury College and added to his collection of degrees in German and Spanish. He was a real polyglot.
He played tuba in the New Horizons Band and Salem Community Orchestra for some years and sang in the Shepherd's Center Singers for a short while. He composed music for brass groups and wrote silly verse on the spot. He learned and taught classical guitar. He sang in a Barbershop group for a while. His teaching career took him from Maryland to Georgia to North Carolina.
Lover of animals, beekeeper, homesteader, he hunted, fished, scavenged and recycled. Old school but unconventional, he lived in the South yet loved immersing himself in foreign cultures. He was an obsessive documentarian.
Mikal is survived by his partner, Carmina Jenks; his brother, Jeff Barnes and his sister, Rachel VanCamp; and his daughter, Nielan Barnes and two sons, Ted Barnes, and Paul Barnes. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Betty Barnes.
A Celebration of Life will take place Sunday, June 26, 2:00-4:00 at The Shepherd's Center of Greater Winston-Salem, 1700 Ebert Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27103. In lieu of condolences, please consider a donation to an organization that supports Ukrainian refugees.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Mikal Barnes
Eric Snyder
August 16, 2024
Hoping to reconnect with Mikal I found this site and was saddened to learn of his passing. I was his teaching assistant in German at Brevard College in 1970-71. He introduced me to the joy of eating fresh vegetables and I went on to become a chef. He was a well rounded and fascinating individual.
Joel Stegall
June 27, 2022
Mikal Barnes was a friend from time we were freshmen together at Wake Forest. He was brilliant, candid, enthusiastic, imaginative and unafraid to be himself. He made his mark on all who knew him, and the left us better than he found us.
Linda Haywood
May 26, 2022
My deepest sympathy to Carmina and the family. I will always remember Mikal singing Volare in Italian with The Shepherd's Center Singers and growing the most wonderful vegetables I have ever eaten. His was a life well-lived.
Ava Allen
May 25, 2022
I offer my sincerest condolences to Carmina, Mikal's children and all those who knew and love him. I enjoyed the time I sang tenor with Mikal and learned a lot from the questions he'd ask and the input he'd share. May God bless his family and may He help console their sadness during this time. This I say with all sincerity.
Dr Susan Phelps, a friend
May 25, 2022
I offer greatest thoughts of compassion to Carmina and Mikal´s family. I met him through the Shepherd Center Singers. He contributed his talents and happy personality to our group. He was always joking and speaking in a foreign language! He will be remembered well! Sail on to new adventures Mikal! God be with you and Carmina. Susan
Dan Jones
May 24, 2022
My deepest sympathy to Carmina and the family. Mike was my college roommate at Wake and we had many great times together in college and in life. He was a unique human being and very creative. I cherish the wonderful memories we shared. Dan Jones
Liz Sanders
May 24, 2022
My deepest condolences to those Mikal has left behind.
It was my pleasure to know you. When I think of you I will not only think of your beautiful rendition of Volare but also of your gifts of potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons.
Godspeed my friend. Liz Sanders
Carolyn Warren Mueller
May 24, 2022
I offer my sympathy to Mikal's family and friends. I remember when I first met him thinking that he was a special person. He was handsome dressed really well and he was friendly and personable. I'm glad he had such a great life, doing things he enjoyed, getting a great education, and it seems he never stopped learning and wanting to be of help to others, just what I would have expected of him. God bless him and those he's left behind. Fondly, Carolyn
Joel Stegall
May 24, 2022
I was shocked and deeply saddened to pick up the paper this morning and find that Mikal Barnes died last week. We were classmates at Wake Forest and kept up somewhat irregularly in recent years. He wrote me a few weeks ago about his resolve to master another language. That seemed so much like Mikal. To say that he was a uniquely talented person seems a bit of an understatement. I am among the many who will miss him.
Phyllis Grubbs
May 24, 2022
My condolences to Mikal's family. He was such a nice and caring gentleman and will be missed so much especially to the class of 1957 at Northwest High School. We will miss him so much and will always have such good memories of our high school days and the class reunions we had. God bless his family and give them extra grace, comfort and strength in is passing and in the days that lie ahead. 3:5-6,
Barbara Brooks
May 24, 2022
Sending my sincere sympathy to Carmina and Mikal´s family and friends. May your precious memories give you comfort and strength. RIP Mikal.
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