Shirley Joan Barnes

Shirley Joan Barnes, a resident of Dothan, AL, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 3, 2017 after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. She was 85 years old.

Visitation will be held Monday, February 6, 2017 from 11:00am-12:00pm at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, followed by her funeral service at 12:00 noon with Rev. Bob Gross officiating.

Mrs. Barnes was born on August 4, 1931 in Evansville, Indiana to Herman Franklin and Venice Frisby Kunnecke. She grew up in Brandenburg, KY and graduated from Meade County High School in 1948. Mrs. Barnes lived in Medford Lakes, NJ for 17 years before moving to Richmond, Virginia, where she resided for 20 years. She and her husband moved to Dothan, AL in 1993.

Mrs. Barnes, known affectionately as “Jojo,” was gracious, hospitable, and extravagantly giving. When she wasn’t watching the Atlanta Braves, stocking up on library books, or listening to music, she was delivering snacks to McDonald’s workers, feeding the mailman, and taking care of anyone within shouting distance. She constantly invited people into her home and focused much of her energy on her family.­­­­­­

Survivors include her husband of 64 years, Cliffton Barnes; her son, Matthew Barnes; her daughter, Amy Barnes (David) Marshall; her grandchild, Sarah Marshall (Joe) Hwang; her sister, Nancy (Clyde) Aldridge; her sisters-in-law, Carolyn Barnes Miller, Charlene Ferguson, and Edith Barnes, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family would love for memorial contributions be made to one of the following organizations:

First Baptist Church Community Ministries

300 West Main Street

Dothan, AL 36301

Alzheimer's Resource Center

1314 Westgate Parkway, Suite 2, Dothan, AL 36302

The Alzheimer’s Foundation at alzfdn.org.