Hilda S. Barnes

Hilda S. Barnes, 65, died Monday, June 26, in Gulfport. Mrs. Barnes was born in Hattiesburg. She was a native of Petal who went to William Carey College on a scholarship where she earned her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees. She met her husband, Ronald "Ronnie" in 1972, and they married in 1973. They had a lefelong passion for music and church ministry. Hilda was director of the Gulf Coast Messiah Chorus and a choral director at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Biloxi. She had served in the same position at St. Peter's-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Gulfport and First United Methodist Church in Biloxi. For 24 years, she directed the Biloxi High School Chorus where she was also the district's choral music supervisor. Mrs. Barnes had also served as district and state choral chairman many times. She was a previous director of the Gulf Coast Opera Chorus and was currently an adjunct instructor for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and William Carey College on the Coast. Mrs. Barnes also taught private piano and voice lessons. She is survivied by her husband, Ronald, of Gulfport; her sister, Peggy Craft (Charles) Frierson of Hattiesburg; her niece, Shana Bodin and great-niece and nephew, Alexis and Anthony Bodin, all of Hattiesburg. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ulma Craft Petty and Oscar Petty of Petal, MS. There will be a Scriptural Rosary Friday morning, June 30, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church on Pass Road in Biloxi followed by a visitation from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The funeral service will be 12 noon at Our Lady of Fatima followed by the burial at Evergreen Gardens in Gulfport. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, O'Neal Road, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com.