Virginia Howell Barnes, 70, of the 200 block of Pine Street died Sept. 15, 2005, in Obici Hospital. A native of Suffolk, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Annie Rose Jenkins Howell and the widow of James E. Barnes Sr.

She was a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School. She was a retired cashier and produce supervisor at Colonial Foods. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Mahan Street, where she was chairperson of the Caring and Sharing Ministry, president of the Senior Usher Ministry, chairperson of the Bereavement and Deaconess ministries, and a member of Education and New Members ministries. She was also president of the Booker T. Washington Alumni Association.

She is survived by two daughters, Cidra Davis and her husband, Terry Davis, of Chesapeake, and Lisa Barnes of Suffolk; two sons, James E. Barnes Jr. and his wife, JoAnn Barnes, of Fayetteville, Ga., and Morris Barnes and his wife, Monica, of Virginia Beach; one brother, LaGrande Howell of Hyattsville, Md.; six grandchildren, Kristen Davis, Arika Barnes, Kasey Davis, Allison Barnes, Kelly Davis, and Lisha Barnes; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends, including two special friends, Jarvis Boykins and Betty Milteer.

The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2005 in First Baptist Church, Mahan Street, by the Rev. Steven G. Blunt. Interment will be in Carver Memorial Cemetery. The family will be at 231 Pine St. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the First Baptist Church’s Caring and Sharing program. Crocker Funeral Home is handling arrangements.