Mrs. Mary Magadlene Barnes, 71, of 1621 Nansemond Parkway, Suffolk, died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2003, in Autumn Care.

She was a native of Southampton County, and was a daughter of the late Clarence Artis and Hattie Scott Artis. She was the widow of Alphonso Barnes Sr. She was predeceased in death by her brother, James L. Artis.

She joined Burdette Baptist Church at a young age and later in the early 1970s she joined Emmanuel Church of God in Christ under the leadership of the late Elder Bennie F. Copeland, where she became the president of the Usher Board. She continued to serve the Lord under the new pastor Elder Alexander Cheatham where she remained president of the usher board of Saint Matthew United Holiness Church of Life.

She leaves to cherish her memory seven daughters, Hattie Ricks of Suffolk; Martha and Arthur Greene of Stelicoom, Wash.; Clarine and Preston Holly, Sarah and John Eason, Irene and Pernell Eason, Alice M. Riddick, and Phyllis and Jasper Waters, all of Suffolk; six sons, Robert L. Artis of Newport News; James J. Artis, Alphonso Barnes Jr. Michael and Debra Barnes, Timothy and Yolanda Barnes and Dennis and Silisa Barnes, all of Suffolk; and one sister, Mary M. Warren of Sedley; 27 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives, and friends.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, in New Mt. Joy Worship Center by Elder Alexander Cheatham. Interment will be held in Carver Memorial Cemetery. Crocker Funeral Home-Suffolk is in charge of the arrangements.