Ms. Linda O. Barnes' Obituary
Ms. Linda O. Barnes passed away peacefully, Sat., August 23, 2025 in a local nursing facility. She was a devoted christian, mother, sister, and grandmother. Ms. Barnes was a retired educator of Bay County School district, Fort Bend Independent School District and Windham School Districts., Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Her entire career spans 50 years in education. She was a native of Panama City, FL, but had lived in the Houston area since the late 1980’s. At her passing, Ms. Barnes was surrounded by her two loving and devoted daughters, Valarie Barnes and Veleria Williams and her one and only granddaughter, Brittany Crofton, who she adored. Ms. Barnes is survived by her five sisters, Ms. Delois O. Johnson, Ms. Paula Oates, Mrs. Thelma O. Faison, Mrs. Sarah Anthony and Ms. Sharon Oates, in addition to a host of nieces and nephews. Ms. Barnes is preceded in death by her parents, Mr. Fred and Lois Oates, Sr. of Panama City, FL; three brothers, Fred D. Oates, Jr. of Houston, TX, Thomas L. Oates of Pensacola, FL, Samuel Oates of Houston, Tx; two sisters, Vera Williams of Champaign, Ill and Shirley Johnson of Panama City, FL.
The Celebration of Life Service for Ms. Barnes will be held Friday, Sept. 5, in the primary sanctuary at Brentwood Baptist Church, located at 13033 Landmark Dr., Houston, TX. A public viewing/visitation will be held from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. The Celebration of Life Service will begin at 11 a.m. followed by a graveside burial at Paradise South Cemetery.
Ms. Barnes completed the State of Florida Teacher Education program for Elementary education the Summer of 1975 where she majored in Early Childhood and became a teacher’s aide for the Bay County School District. Her first teaching position was with Northside Elementary. Ms. Barnes received a Texas Professional Teacher Certification in 1983 where she focused her career in Elementary grade levels 01 to 08 and received her Mid-Management Administrator Certificate for grade levels PRE-K to 12 in 1997. She received a Master of Education with a major in Mid-Management Supervision from the University of Houston, Victoria, TX and received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL.
Ms. Barnes was an enthusiastic educator with a proven track record of fostering academic learning and enhancing student creativity. She received recognition by both parents and administrators for her classroom effectiveness. She had proven expertise in taking academic subject matter and “making it come alive” for the students through well-planned, hand-ons activities designed to foster creativity and critical thinking. Her classrooms were always nicely decorated with English, Math, History, ABC and 123 charts. She used lots of bright colors throughout her classrooms to capture the attention and imagination of her students.
Ms. Barnes was Principal with the Windham School District, Texas Criminal Justice System based in Rosharon, TX from 1993 to 2004. Ms. Barnes taught GED instruction, vocational training and apprenticeship programs to a population of 1000+ confined adults to include cabinetmaking and upholstering. One fun fact; while at Windham, she supervised construction of wood cabinets for 37 new homes for the district partnership with the Habitat for Humanity homes.
Ms. Barnes was passionate about elementary education and instruction. She taught in the Fort Bend Independent School district from 1982 teaching students in first, second and fourth grades. From 2005 to 2008, she was a Program Director and Learning Community Instructor Leader with Community Education Partners, CEP Southeast Campus, New Aspirations Academy located in based Nashville, TN. Her goal and mission was to collaborate with others to improve the Dropout Prevention Recovery program, Houston, TX.
Some of Ms. Barnes’ key accomplishments include receiving an appointment to be a Team Leader. She was selected to teach the Gifted and Talented students where she received a nomination for the “Teacher of the Year” honor.
Ms. Barnes was involved in community activities to included being a Member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority-Lambda Zeta Chapter and Phi Delta Kappa. She was a member of the Texas Retired Teachers Association; She volunteered with the American Heart Association, March of Dimes, Lymphoma Association and Fort Bend Women’s Association. She also served as a member of the Lakes of Savannah Community Home Owners Association.
Ms. Barnes lived a full life and enjoyed her daughters, granddaughter and spending time with her family and friends cooking, eating, shopping and traveling. Our mother’s earthly journey is complete. She will always remain in our hearts and we will have fond memories of our dear Mother, Grandmother, Friend, and the Matriarch of the Family.
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