Joanne E. Barnes

Obituary for Joanne Estelle Barnes Born on November 29, 1944, Joanne Estelle Barnes transitioned to eternal rest at her home in Fort Washington, MD on August 6, 2022. Joanne was the youngest of four siblings born in Harrisburg, PA to the late James and Estelle Barnes. She was raised in a loving Christian home that practiced faith, humility, and service. It was love shared with her twin sister Joyce Barnes Lugrand, her late brother Virgil Hammond, and her late sister Noel Hammond Campt. Joanne was dedicated to her family. She encouraged, supported, and ensured their rich family history and heritage was known, honored, and continued through three generations. She travelled frequently to attend many family milestones, and she generously shared her pictorial archives of these events. She was also the devoted caretaker of her father for over eleven years where love, laughter, song, and intellectual banter was plentiful until his homegoing in 2005. From the age of three, she was an avid reader throughout her life. Her father trained the twins to read and sing three different voice parts, and at a young age, they accompanied performances of his acapella inspirational group, the Prim Singers. As an adult, Joanne sang with numerous community and church choirs. Encouraged by her late friend, Odette Horne, she was one of the founding members of Richard Smallwood’s Young Adult Fellowship Ensemble at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington, DC. Joanne accepted Christ at nine years of age and rededicated her life at the First Baptist Church of North Brentwood, MD, where she sang in the choir from 1977-1984. As an active member of From the Heart Church Ministries, she served as class leader in the Intercessory Prayer Ministry and the Health and Healing Ministries. As a member of Shiloh Baptist Church of Alexandria, VA., she served on the Prayer Team, and at Greater Mount Nebo A.M.E., she participated in the Stay Connected Ministry, and later graduated from the Bible Institute. Most recently, as a member of First Baptist Church of Gleneden, Joanne served in the Tamar Ministry, Merge, Military Care, and the Special Needs Ministries. She was a dedicated member of the Fellowship and Combined Choirs. Joanne earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1973 from Central State University and was accepted to both a master’s and PhD degree program at Eastern Michigan University. In 1975 she completed her master’s degree with a thesis on EMG (electromyogram): Feedback for Dysarthrics. Joanne accepted her first speech-language pathologist position in Castro Valley Unified School District (CA). Prior to being able to begin her PhD, the death of her sister Noel brought Joanne to Avondale, MD in 1976 to help her (late) brother-in-law, Douglas Campt, care for his young three children, Crystal, Tina, and (the late) Douglas (ages 13, 11, and 6). She returned to work in 1977, as a speech-language pathologist in the Prince George’s County Public School System (PGCSS), where she worked until her retirement in 2000. During her tenure in the PGCSS, Joanne initiated the first accent reduction program for ESOL students at Oxon Hill High School and specialized in treatments for traumatic brain injured and Huntington’s disease students. Following her retirement, Joanne continued working in several area school districts, outpatient rehabilitation centers and hospitals, as well as volunteering as a consultant at For the Heart Church Ministry and as an advocate for First Baptist Church of Glenarden Parents of Students in PGCSS. Joanne’s generosity, frank and wise counsel, her dry humor, luminous smile and hearty laugh, and her deep compassion were special gifts that will be sorely missed by her family and life-long friends who survive her. She leaves cherished memories with her twin sister, Joyce Barnes Lugrand; nieces and nephews: Crystal Campt Arthur, Dr. Tina Campt PhD (William Nitzberg), Virgil Hammond III, Jeffrey Hammond (Renee), Kirk Hammond (Dr. Dionne Posey-Hammond MD), Lydia Hammond-German (Oscar), Dr. Gmerice Hammond MD (Taiwo Ogunjobi), Paula Lugrand-Martin, John Scott Hammond (Elana), Noel Hammond-Sullivan (Kelly); eight great nephews, eight great nieces, and one great-great nephew; sister-in-law Dr. Anna Hammond EdD; and her many beloved Westbrooks, Bonaparte and Brogsdale cousins. Her light and love will continue to burn brightly in their hearts and minds, and we will forever cherish the blessing of having her in our lives. Joanne Barnes’ Memorial Service will held at 11am (10:30am visitation) on August 26, 2022 at First Baptist Church of Glenarden Ministry Center, 3600 Brightseat Road, Landover, MD 20785. Flowers may be sent to the church on the day of the service. The service will be streamed online at: https://fbcglenarden.org/funeralviewing. The program can be viewed at: fbcglenarden.org/funeralprogram

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Joanne E. Barnes

November 29, 1944 - August 6, 2022