Obituary of Helen Constance "Connie" Barnes

We celebrate with joy, happiness and love the life of Connie Barnes who died on Sunday, February 19, 2023. A funeral ceremony will be held in her honor at 1:00 P.M. on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at First Methodist Church of Talladega with Todd Henderson officiating. Interment will follow directly after the service at Oak Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Usrey Funeral Home of Talladega on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Helen Constance “Connie” Baynes was born on September 15, 1929 to her parents, Harry Lawrence Baynes and Edna Henson Baynes, at Citizen’s Hospital in Talladega. Connie’s early life was spent growing up in Talladega. She attended Graham Elementary School, Dixon Middle School, and Talladega High School where she graduated from in 1949. She had an outstanding academic career, and graduated from high school with honors. While in high school, she was a majorette in the THS Band. Connie also received the Balfour Award which recognized an outstanding senior from Talladega High School at her graduation ceremony. Upon graduation from high school, Connie attended the University of Alabama where she was very active in college activities. During her four year college career, Connie was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She also had the unique distinction of playing two years of girls’ touch football where she served as her team’s quarterback and lead them to back-to-back-season wins. After graduating from the University of Alabama in 1953 with a degree in Elementary Education, Connie attended Gallaudet College in Washington, D.C. which was the college that her parents had also attended. She graduated from Gallaudet in 1954 with a Master’s Degree in Deaf Education. While at the University of Alabama, Connie met, dated, and became engaged to Kenneth Augusta “Gus” Barnes of Selma, Alabama. Connie and Gus were married in June of 1954. Gus was in the Army, and shortly after their marriage they were stationed out of the country in Germany. Upon their return from Germany, they moved back to Talladega where their son, Larry Barnes, was born. After moving back to Talladega, Connie and Gus began working at the Alabama School for the Deaf where Connie began a career of teaching the deaf that would last for well over 30 years. Connie’s husband, Gus, died after having lived in Talladega for only a short time. Connie was to face the challenge of raising a two year old son as a single parent; a challenge she met with much love and adoration. In addition to her teaching career at ASD, Connie was very active in many things in Talladega. She was a very active member of First Methodist Church of Talladega where she taught Sunday school for many years and was very active on the Board of Directors. Her most impressive contribution, however, was interpreting the church services for the deaf which she did for 50 years. Connie also contributed her time and service to other activities in Talladega. She coached a girls’ recreational basketball team and assisted the swim team with practices and activities. She was also very active in downtown activities such as the performances at the Ritz Theatre. Connie loved Talladega and made a point each Christmas to help those in Talladega who might be having some financial difficulty with Christmas. Upon her death, Connie had requested, as a part of her life’s celebration and love of Talladega, that her body be driven around the square in downtown Talladega. Connie Barnes was so very special, and she will be so missed. She will always be remembered as an individual that loved her God, her family, her church, her town of Talladega, and the people of Talladega with all of her heart, mind, and strength. Mrs. Barnes is survived by her son, Kenneth L. “Larry” Barnes; younger brother, Ronnie Baynes; sister-in-law, Marie Baynes; granddaughter, Abby Hanna, and great-granddaughters, Kylee Hanna and Makayla Hanna. She also helped to raise and is survived by nieces, Pam Baynes Autrey, Mary Lynn Baynes, and Tracey Baynes Oprandy, and nephews, Rusty Baynes, Mark Baynes, and Allen Baynes. Allen Baynes, Mark Baynes, Rusty Baynes, Frank Oprandy, Andy Autrey, Will Baynes, Mason Baynes, and Jonathan Oprandy will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to First Methodist Church of Talladega, 400 East St. S., Talladega, AL 35160. Online condolences may be offered at www.usreyfuneralhome.com. Usrey Funeral Home of Talladega is directing the services.