Zula Virginia Barnacastle Brand

Graveside services for Virginia Brand will be held at 11:30 AM on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Lockhart Cemetery with Reverend Gary Briden and Bro. Darrell Thomas officiating. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements.

Mrs. Zula Virginia Barnacastle Brand, 81, of Meridian, passed away May 5, at her daughter's home, where she had resided for several months. She was surrounded by her daughter, grandson, and sister while "By and By When the Morning Comes" played softly on the radio. Virginia fell in love with the Lord at an early age. She spent her life singing for Jesus. She earned a vocal scholarship from Mount Zion Bible College and later joined The Singing Triads after she married and moved to Alabama. When she relocated back to Mississippi, she formed The Barnacastle Singers in 1975 with her sisters and sister-in-law. The singing group members changed over the years but still traveled to various churches and events throughout Mississippi and Alabama for over twenty years. She served the Lord in many positions: Sunday school teacher, vacation Bible school director, choir director, church deaconess, and even served as interim pastor in two different churches. Her church home was Pine Grove Independent Methodist Church for over fifty years. She was a prayer warrior and dedicated donor to many Christian and patriotic charities and organizations. She loved Jesus, her family, and her country.

Virginia married Richard Jerry Brand in December of 1964. Years later, they had a daughter, DeLisa, whom they cherished. When their grandson, Kade, was born, he became the center of their lives, and he remained her focus until her death.

Virginia was brilliant and talented. She loved being a homemaker and enjoyed completing crossword puzzles, reading, traveling to the mountains, and working with her flowers in the yard. She was an excellent seamstress; she could create a dress from only seeing it, did excellent alterations, and even sewed prom/formal attire, bridal gowns, and bridesmaids' dresses.

In her lifetime, she survived cancer three times but succumbed to myasthenia gravis.

Virginia is survived by her daughter, DeLisa, and grandson, Kade; sisters Lynn Posey and Lois Brand; brother Curtis Barnacastle (Peggy); and multiple nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews; and close friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Richard Brand, parents Curtis and Evelyn Barnacastle, nephews Paul Brand and Jeffrey Barnacastle, sister and brother-in-law Pauline and Cecil Goodin, and brothers-in-law Ronald Posey and Truman Brand.

The family suggests memorial donations be made to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, and/or the American Cancer Society in Virginia's honor.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.