CONWAY – Mrs. Ellen Clark Barnes, age 86, of Conway, died peacefully surrounded by her family and pets on Monday, January 25, 2016 at her residence in Conway, NC.

She was born in Bertie County on October 8, 1929 to the late Willie and Deanie Mae Clark. Aside from being a homemaker Mrs. Barnes worked as a seamstress for a number of years for Roxobel Garment Company and Ahoskie Manufacturing Company. She was a member of the Sandy Run Baptist Church in Roxobel, NC.

Mrs. Barnes was an excellent cook, she loved sewing, crocheting, quilt making, gardening, reading and watching her stories. Mrs. Barnes looked forward to and enjoyed family vacations with her brood of children, where she was affectionately known as the “Hen.”

She was preceded in death by her mother, Deanie Mae Simmons Clark; her father, Willie Hill Clark; her husband, Earl Clingman Barnes; her daughter, Deanie Marie Chanoine; and her grandson, Sgt. Will McLawhorn.

Ellen is survived by her four daughters, Barbara Chanoine Byrd and her husband Kenneth of Aulander, NC, Sherry Chanoine Harrison and her husband Aubrey of Greenville, NC, Diane Barnes McLawhorn and her husband Willie of Conway, NC, and Debbie Barnes White and her husband Walter of Bay City, TX; three sons, Kelly Chanoine and his wife Elizabeth of Euless, TX, Johnny Barnes and his wife Sonya of Concord, NC, and David Barnes of Conway, NC; sister, Doris C. Keel of Ahoskie, NC; and brother, Fred Clark of Ella Gala, FL. Also surviving are eighteen grandchildren and twenty-two great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends on Thursday evening from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service in Rich Square.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, January 29, 2016 at 3 pm at the Conway Baptist Church in Conway with the Rev. Willie McLawhorn and Rev. Randy Starkey officiating.

The interment will follow at the Roxobel-Kelford Cemetery in Roxobel, NC.

Flowers are welcome, however memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.

Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service of Rich Square is handling the arrangements for the Barnes family and online condolences can be directed to the family by visiting www.garrettsykesfs.com.