Betty Jane Barnett

Betty Jane Bailey Barnett,90, passed away peacefully on January 11, 2026, surrounded by family and her loving caregivers. She was a resident at Country Meadow Personal Care Home in Greenwood, Mississippi.

Betty was born on October 23, 1935, in Coila, Mississippi. She was the daughter of the late Fredrick Franklin Bailey and the late Doris Lucille Lott Bailey. At an early age, her family relocated from Carroll County, Mississippi to Shelby, Mississippi. She was a graduate of Shelby High School and later attended cosmetology school in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

While in Virginia, she met the love of her life, Ward Kentnor Barnett Sr. They married and later moved to the Outer Banks. Mr Barnett was born and raised on Hatteras Island. Together, they wanted to raise their children close to his family home.

In 1975, Betty and her husband, Ward, established Frisco Woods Campground in Frisco, North Carolina. Instilled with a kind and giving heart, in 1987, she founded Hatteras Island Meals on Wheels, a volunteer program that provided meals to the elderly/home-bound people of her community. Betty was also an active member of the Dare County Republican Party and the Cape Hatteras Kiwanis Club. Upon retirement in the 1990’s, she continued to pour her heart into the Meals on Wheels program.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband of 37 years, Ward K. Barnett Sr.; two daughters, Paula C. Tharp and Renae B. Farrow;

two brothers, Fredrick Fancher Bailey and Don Michael Bailey; three sisters, Rita Joan Bailey, Opal Jean Vassar, and Joyce Amerson.

Betty is survived by her children: Martha Caton(Rick) of Frisco, NC, Victor Kenneth Lewis(Renee) of Willow Springs, NC, and Ward K. Barnett Jr.(Buster)of Frisco, NC,

Grandchildren: Charity Blackburn(Dale), Heather Austin, Jason Roberts, Tamara Carter(Billy), Ashley Burch(Matt), Clifton(Austin)Austin III(Anna), Caleb Lewis, Brianna Bossio(Josh), and Kalee Barnett. Great-grandchildren: Edward E Cobb III(Trey), Brantley Rodgers, Jackson Rozier, Will Rozier, Hunter Burch, Alaya Austin, Kyla Burch, Elwood Austin, Riley Henley, Freya Henley, Dakota Barnett and Brody Bossio.Great-great-grandchild: Edward E. Cobb IV(Dru); and many nieces and nephews.

Betty was of strong faith and loved the Lord. She was a member of the Frisco Assembly of God and later Heritage of Faith in Frisco, North Carolina. She could often be found in her room praying aloud, earning the name “the praying woman”.

Betty touched the lives of everyone who had the honor of knowing her. Her selflessness, warmth, and generous spirit will be remembered forever. She leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, and compassion.

She enjoyed volunteering, hosting fundraising events, traveling, gardening, antique and rock collecting.

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to Kadesha Flowers, Cynthia Stewart, Country Meadow staff, and Heart of Hospice staff for the years of kindness and loving care they gave to Betty.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hatteras Island Meals, PO Box 854, Hatteras, NC 27920.

The family will host a celebration of life memorial in Greenwood, Mississippi, and Frisco, North Carolina at a later date.