Ola Mae (Strickland) Barnes

Ola Mae Strickland Barnes, 84, of High Point passed away peacefully on April 2, 2018 at High Point Regional Hospital, surrounded by her family.

Mae was born April 20, 1933 in Johnston County, North Carolina to the late Charlie Strickland and Emma Barefoot Strickland.  She was also preceded in death by her husband; Thel Barnes, children; Danny Barnes, Judy Layton, Billy Ray Barnes and 12 siblings.

Mae spent many early mornings, over the years, perfecting the art of biscuit-making at the Golden B Restaurant in High Point, sharing the delicious results with many of her grandchildren.  Those early work mornings left her the day to spend doing all that she loved: babysitting her grandkids, fishing, watching John Wayne movies, her “stories”, praising the Lord with the Gaithers, and of course her daily naps.  Being the matriarch of such a large family earned her the title of “the strongest woman we’ve ever known”.  She was the rock that you could count on when you’d lost your footing, while also providing that soft embrace when you just needed to be held.  As loving as she was, she was no pushover, quick to take a switch to those legs in a heartbeat (and you had better make sure you picked the right size, too). Though countless trials and tribulations came her way, her faith in God never wavered, and she used the endurance and strength built from those struggles to instill those same values and that same hope into her marriage, raising her 7 children, and in all others whom she helped mold.  Up until the end, she never lost sight of the promise of eternity with her Lord and Savior, and though she loved her family with all her being, she longed to be home with Him.

Those who remain to cherish Mae’s memories are her children; Linda Muse of Holden Beach, Ricky Barnes and wife, Melody of Lexington, Patsy Barnes and Fiancé, Keith of High Point, Donnie Barnes and fiancée, Ellen of High Point, Kathy Parrish and husband, Wesley of Thomasville, grandchildren; Steve Muse, Tina Garton, Tammy Fowler, Penny Atkins, Donnie Barnes, Jr., Ricky Barnes, Nikia Grey, Jonathan Parrish, Benjamin Barnes, Andrea Fetterer,  thirteen great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, brother; Sherrill “Buck” Strickland, son-in-law; Butch Layton of High Point daughter-in-law; Sandy Barnes of High Point.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 5, 2018 from 6:00 unitl 8:00 p.m. at Cumby Family Funeral Service, 1015 Eastchester Drive in High Point.  A service in memory of Mae will be 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 6, 2018 at the funeral home with Pastor Sam Harvey officiating.  Burial will follow at Floral Garden Park Cemetery in High Point.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ola Mae (Strickland) Barnes, please visit our floral store.