It is with regret we announce the passing of Mrs. Willa Dean Brown Barnes, age 85, of Fayetteville, TN. A funeral service will be held at 1 pm on Saturday, June 11, 2022, at Higgins Funeral Home with Bill Hunter officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Memorial Gardens. Visitation with the family will be from 11 am until 1 pm on Saturday at Higgins.

Mrs. Barnes was born June 24, 1936, in Lincoln County, TN to the late Ernest and Clara Lee Warren Brown. She was secretary for Fayetteville City Schools for 18 years and was a member of Washington Street Church of Christ for many years. She also attended Highland Heights Church of Christ in Smyrna, TN in her later years. Willa Dean was a smiling, caring person, and a friend to many. She enjoyed working in her flowers and she cherished her family. Mrs. Barnes passed away June 9, 2022, at her residence.

Survivors include her son Dr. Larry (Kem) Barnes of Fayetteville; daughter, Deborah Walker of Smyrna; grandchildren, John (Caroline) Barnes of Knoxville, Brad (Randi) Walker of Eagleville, Laura (Brian) Taylor of Atlanta, GA, Doug (Annie) Walker of Smyrna, Cyndi (Chad) Mullins of Murfreesboro, Megan (Alex) Vaughn of Soddy Daisy, Travis (Kathia) Clark of Leon, Nicaragua, Candace Barnes (Steven Ho) of Marion, NC, Elise (Mohammad) Sanjakdar of Turkey, and Diana Barnes of Fayetteville; and ten great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Lynn Gambill Barnes.

Memorial donations may be made to the Honduras Mission Fund at Washington Street Church of Christ, PO Box 324, Fayetteville, TN 37334.

Higgins Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mrs. Willa Dean Brown Barnes.