Melba June Barnes

Melba June Barnes, 72, of Paragould passed from this life Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at her home. Daughter of the late Thomas and Lorene Baxley Bryan, she was born in Monette and raised in Leachville, where she was a 1971 graduate of Leachville High School. Melba went on to earn an associate’s degree from Mississippi County Community College in 1984, a bachelor’s degree from Baptist College in Memphis, Tenn., in 1999 and a master’s degree from Arkansas State University-Jonesboro in 2001. She was a psychiatric CNS, APRN and was a member of the Church of Christ in Leachville. Melba was a lover of literature, and a prolific reader, while also having a passion for interior design. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers and three sisters.

Survivors include her husband, Eddie Barnes of the home; one son, Brandon Barnes (Bonnie) of Paragould; one daughter, Karman Matthews (Chris) of Paragould; one brother, Phillip Bryan of Newark; four sisters, Betty Eash of Highland, Ann Cornelison of Leachville, Cindy Crawford of Leachville, andBulah Henry of Sebastian, Fla.; five grandchildren, Paydon Barnes of Paragould, Kaylea Barnes of Paragould, Chance Matthews and his fiance Sarah of Paragould, Chase Matthews (Michala) of Sherwood and Zach Depew of Paragould; two bonus daughters, Angela Stidham (Daniel) of Lafe and Alexis Sowards of Paragould; four bonus grandchildren, Olivea and Marissa Jett of Lafe, Kailey Jett and Ryan Wood of Paragould, Miles Young of Lafe and Ava Mae Stidham of Lafe; one bonus great-grandchild, Belle Jett of Paragould.

2nd Corinthians 5:8 “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”

Memorial service will be 2 p.m. Monday, July 15, at the Church of Christ in Leachville with pastors Dakota Croskno and Daniel Stidham officiating. The family will receive visitors from 1 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m. at the church. Friends may sign the online guest register at www.HowardFuneralService.com.