Lynn Barnes

Lynn Marie (Owens) Barnes passed away September 13, 2021. She traveled peacefully with her two cherished daughters, Nicolle (Mark) Smith and Cynthia (Joel) Vermetti, and beloved husband, Tom by her side, under the care of hospice. Lynn was the centerpiece of our family, always had kind and supporting words, and occasionally words we didn’t want to hear, but we are better for them. She gave her horses and dogs equal care and attention. Lynn was a life-long social worker, including marching in Birmingham in 1963, working on difficult children’s cases for Wayne County Social Services, a member of the first brain injury team at Mary Free Bed, building school rooms, providing desks, and coordinating drilling water wells in Africa, assisting Katrina victims, and responding to cases when various non-profits requested help. Most recently she volunteered at the Flat River Outreach Ministries. She was a champion for the underdog. Her expressed wishes were that no service take place, instead a private family gathering will be held. Memorial contributions can be directed to ASPCA, https://www.aspca.org/ or African Wildlife Foundation, https://www.awf.org/ or a charity of one’s choice.