Rachel Barnes Memorial website
This site is created in loving memory of our daughter Rachel. She gave so much love in the twenty-two years that she was with us. She will always be an inspiration to everyone who knew her. Rachel's life had a marvelous purpose and was not a life lived in vain. Let this be her legacy. She was here to teach us about life and death, to be an example for us, to show us what it means to really grow. She was here to teach us how to love, to give of ourselves, to find true happiness, and to make the best of the hand we are dealt. She may have lost a few battles, but in the end she won the victory. We will always cherish the time we had with her, and she will live on our hearts until the day we can be with her again. We will remember her always. We love you, our sweet Rachie Roo.
Rachel Catherine Barnes. age 22, was born on July 9, 1983, in Pikeville, Kentucky, to Scrapy Louis and Marilyn Barnes. She departed this world on July 28, 2005, following a 3 1/2 year long battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma.
She is survived by her parents; a sister, Rebecca Slone; a niece, Sarah, three nephews, Andrew, Alex, and Shaun; one uncle, David Cook; two aunts, Linda Smith and Debbie Renigar; and a host of loving cousins and friends.
Rachel was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Joe and Bertha Barnes; her maternal grandparents, James and Eulah Cook, both who were long time members of the Pikeville Old Regular Baptist Church.; and an uncle, James "Jimbo" Cook.
Rachel was a member of Toler Creek Freewill Baptist Church. She attended Pikeville Elementary and Pikeville High School. She attended Morehead State University until she was first diagnosed. She later attended Big Sandy Community Regional and Technical College. Her goal was to become a computer network administrator. While attending school she worked at Food City- a job she loved.
During her illness, Rachel's faith, courage, and strength were immeasurable. Instead of asking, "Why me?" she would always ask, "Why not me?" She touched the lives of so many people and made so many friends during the twenty-two years she was with us. All through her illness she worried more about others than she did herself and was so grateful for what God had given her. When she smiled that beautiful smile, the love she had inside her came shining through. She was wise beyond her years and had an inner strength that only God could give.
Rachel had so much to deal with in her short time here, but she loved life and made the most of every moment. She endured to the end, leaning on her Lord, knowing that He would take care of her. She found in Him that "peace that passeth all understanding."
Our hearts are shattered, our souls are weary, and life will never be the same without our precious Rachel. We lost a precious gift of God when she left us that morning, but our loss is Heaven's gain.
-written by her loving mother
Alas! how changed that lovely flower
Which bloomed and cheered my heart!
Fair, fleeting comfort of an hour,
How soon we're called to part.
And shall my bleeding heart arraign
That God, whose ways are love,
Or vainly cherish anxious pain
For her who rests above.
No! Let me rather humbly pay
Obedience to His will,
And with my inmost spirit say,
"The Lord is righteous still."
From adverse blasts and lowering storms
Her favoured soul He bore;
And with yon bright, angelic forms,
She lives to die no more.
Why should I vex my heart, or fast?
No more she'll visit me;
My soul will mount to her at last,
And there my child I'll see.
Prepare, my blessed Lord, to share
The bliss Thy people prove;
Who round Thy glorious throne appear,
And dwell in perfect love .
- taken from the Thomas Hymnal
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
| mom |
Memories of my tiny precious little baby-so quiet, so good. I remember your first smile. It was the middle of the night and you were about 5 or 6 weeks old. I was worried because your Sis had smiled so much earlier.I fed you and laid you down on the bed next to me. As I talked to you, you looked straight at me just like you did from the minute you were born. Your tiny mouth suddenly turned up at the corners and there you were smiling at me. I was just thrilled!
We laid there side by side me singing to you. You slowly closed your little blue eyes and I scooted you away from me, so I wouldn't hurt you. When morning came I awoke in the same position but there you were cuddled right next to me. I never figured that one out but it was always like that. If you slept with me, when morning came you would be right next to me. So many memories.
| Mom |
Jan. 22, 2008
Visiting
I wake from my sleep
To see you standing there
Beside my bed
Like you did as a child
Waiting silently for me
To feel your presence.
You didn't want to startle me
You knew I would soon awaken
Because you needed me
A bad dream, a sore throat?
Slowly I would open my eyes
And there you would be.
"What's wrong, baby?"
Speaking to an outline
Unable to distinguish your features
In the darkened room
You reached for me
And I held you.
Again I know you are there
For a brief moment I look
And there you are
Just like before
Standing there waiting
Your body slightly brushing my bed.
I close my eyes to you
And open them again
Yes, you are still there
Except your hair is long and straight
The way it used to be
My image of perfection.
I feel no emotion
No rush of love like before
No sadness for your death
Only an awareness
That everything is okay
That we are still connected.
We do not touch
Nor do we speak
For though we are together
We are on different planes
But we both understand
What the other one needs.
I close my eyes once more
And open them again
You are gone-vanished
Escaping all space and time
To a place I am not yet allowed
I close my eyes once more.
~Mom
| Mom |
January 22, 2008
Today is Grandma's birthday. She would have been 84. That is so hard to believe. I hope that all of you are together enjoying the untold beauty of that fair land.
I dreamed of you last night. It was so real and although I can't remember hearing your voice, I remember what you said. Then I heard this song on another angel's site. I had never heard it before but it fit so well.
When you're dreaming with a broken heart
The waking up is the hardest part
You roll outta bed and down on your knees
And for the moment you can hardly breathe
Wondering was she really here?
Is she standing in my room?
No she's not, 'cause she's gone, gone, gone, gone, gone....
When you're dreaming with a broken heart
The giving up is the hardest part
She takes you in with her crying eyes
Then all at once you have to say goodbye
Wondering could you stay my love?
Will you wake up by my side?
No she can't, 'cause she's gone, gone, gone, gone, gone....
Now do i have to fall asleep with roses in my hands
Do i have to fall asleep with roses in my hands?
Do i have to fall asleep with roses in my hands?
Do i have to fall asleep with roses in my , roses in my hands?
Would you get them if i did?
No you won't, 'cause you're gone, gone, gone, gone, gone....
When you're dreaming with a broken heart
The waking up is the hardest part
Waking up is the hardest part.
I love you, Rach!
| Carol-David's Mom | July 9, 1983 |
To Rachel's family and friends- What a joyous, special day July 9th of 1983 was. Our two angels were born on the very same day! It was very hot and sunny, in the mid 90's here in Indiana. My first and only child was born and I, too, lost him in 2005, on September 25th. It has been a sea of grief and pain ever since, as you well know, loving and losing your precious girl, too. On this, the eve of that wonderful birthday, as I try to occupy myself from tearful memories, I decided to type in my boys birthday on the web, and Rachel's memorial site popped up. I couldn't believe she was born on the same exact day, and was lost just a few weeks before Dave- age 22, Oh, how ridiculously unfair, and I know you and I both will never quite understand. Tomorrow, they should both be turning 25, and enjoying life and the thought of their long futures ahead. Oh, the sorrow I know you feel tonight. I am so very sorry for your loss! Rachel was such a gorgeous young girl, and my Dave was a tall, very handsome boy with blonde/brown hair and blue eyes. I just want to let you know I am thinking of and praying for you tonight, and will say a prayer for Rachel, too. I frequently pray to God to please keep Dave safe and happy in Heaven, although I know he will anyway. My email is Dreamer04@peoplepc.com if you would like to chat about our special angels. God be with you and your family always. Carol, David Scott's Mom
| BRITTANY SYFERT'S GRMA ROSE | REMEMBERING YOU |
PRECIOUS RACHEL,
SENDING LOTS OF LOVE TO YOU AND YOUR LOVING FAMILY,
LOVING YOU WAS EASY,LOOSING YOU WAS HARD,LOVING YOU IS STILL EASY BUT KNOWING YOU ARE NO LONGER HERE,IS THE HARDEST OF IT ALL.
| donna doinidis | treasure life |
| Debi Collins | A grieving Mom who cares |
If I had a quick fix, a way to stop the pain that you have lived and will continue to live in various ways, I would. Your beautiful Rachel died just 12 days after our Andrew died. He was involved in a car accident, was ejected from the car and died four days later of massive head trauma. The loss is not measurable, nor is it understood by so many who have never been where we are today. The void is there and I can't imagine anything ever filling that massive hole in heart and soul. Has it become a bit more manageable for me? At times, I can almost see an improvement in my attitude, in dealing with and accepting my grief, but at others, I just can't seem to find the strength to do even minor things. I pray that you and your family will focus on Rachel's new home and how healthy she is again. That alone, brings me so much comfort.
Please feel free to visit our son if you would care to: http://andrew-collins.last-memories.com
Debi Collins