Mrs. Dorothy Mae Sims Barnett, 81, of 737 Old Post Road, Cherryville, NC, departed this life on  Friday, October 26, 2012, at Cleveland Regional Medical Center, in Shelby, NC.  She was born on July 4, 1931 in Cherokee County, SC to the late Jimmie Sims, Sr. and Vera Gibbs Sims.

Mrs. Barnett was a faithful member of Fairview Baptist Church for over 50 years.  She served throughout the years as an usher board president, missionary board member and deaconess.  She worked for over 35 years with Gaston Community Action Head Start Program as a teacher, a job she truly was passionate about and loved.  The love she had for teaching the children was evident in the many great memories that her former students through the years have shared about her.  Her pastimes included cooking, shopping and spending time with her grandchildren and “adopted grandchildren” who enjoyed spending time at her home.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Herbert Sims and Jimmie Sims, Jr.

Left to cherish fond memories of her are her husband of 61 years, James Barnett; her children, Pastor Bobby Giles (Mae) of Gastonia, NC, Glenda Barnett of the home, Janet Farley (Al) of Cherryville and Michelle Barnett of the home; a brother, Letcher Sims of Passaic, NJ; three sisters, Ella Killebrew, Lillie Mae Jackson and Margaret Mann all of Passaic; six grandchildren, Taneisha Fuller (Harvey) of Cherryville, Jennifer Brooks (Millard) of Troutman, NC, who were both reared in her home, Frederic Farley of Crouse, NC, Courtland Odum and Kieran Barnett both of the home; seven great-grandchildren, Joscelyn Barnett, Dharian Barnett, Naudia Bush, Justis Brooks, Daveon Giles, Naveon Bush and Keyaun Sutton; two sisters-in-law, Hannah Sims of Shelby and Virginia Herndon of Lincolnton, NC; an aunt, Julia Tate of Michigan; two special friends, Carrie Bell Johnson and Brenda Sluder and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 1, 2012 at 3:00 PM at Fairview Baptist Church with Pastor David Lindsay officiating and Pastor Bobby Giles delivering the eulogy.  Burial will take place at Cherryville City Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2:30 until 3:00 PM at the church and at other times at 405 Crown Creek Drive, Cherryville.  Condolences can be expressed at www.enloes.net.  Enloe Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.