MR. JOHNNIE LAGURDUA BARNES, SR.

Johnnie Lagurdus Barnes was born on July 4, 1942, in Columbia, Mississippi, the son of Helen Erving Johnson and Robert Tilor Ashley. Johnnie was adopted and raised by Lerue and Marganai Barnes.

He attended Jefferson High School where he graduated class of 1960. Johnnie moved to Gary Indiana where met and married Marlene Jeanette Hopkins Barnes on July 18, 1963, and in that union, he had three children Demetrius, Johnny II, and Marlisa.

Johnnie was employed at Inland Steel Company where he was a hard worker for 35 years, in his spare time he coached baseball teams mainly his two sons and all the neighborhood kids to whom he was known as “Coach Barnes". Johnnie loved to watch sports and sometimes even participated in some football and baseball games. After Johnnie retired from the steel mill, he worked several odd jobs as a carrier and a bus driver for several years later on. Johnnie left Gary in 1996 and moved to Indianapolis where he continued to drive the bus for local charter schools and churches. Then he met his partner, Carol Torrence.

Johnnie was preceded in death his, mother, Helen Erving Johnson; father, Robert Tilor Ashley; stepfather, John Johnson; wife, Marlene Jeanette Hopkins Barnes; two sisters, Rena F Ashley and Lisa Lynette Johnson; six brothers, Robert Ashley Jr., Gregory T Ashley, Ralph Johnson Dwight Johnson, Milton Johnson and John Johnson; one granddaughter, Vershaire Barnes; two brothers-in-law, Ernest Bruce and Jimmy Lackey.

Johnnie is survived by his children, Demetrius, Johnny (Versie) and Marlisa (James); his wife, Carol Torrence; nine grandchildren, Britney, Mar’Juan, Arnetrius, Marvell, Marcus, Jonathan Markel, Vershanna and Veronica.; 23 great-grandchildren; sisters, Lena R. Ashley,   Gloria J. Ashley, Alvenia Bruce, Cheryl Lackey, Renae Johnson, LaToya Williams; two brothers, Torrance Johnson and DeAndre Johnson; one aunt, Clementine Bennet; sisters-in-law, Cassandra Johnson, Gina Johnson, and LeeAnn (Guilford) Forney, and a host of niece’s, nephew's, cousins and friends. Special friend, Earl Griffis. Johnnie will be truly missed by all of his family and friends. 

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