Dennis Barnes

A private memorial service will be held at a later date for Dennis Leigh Barnes, 63, who died June 3, 2016, at Anderson Regional Medical Center.

Dennis was born in Jackson to parents Harry and Jean Tatum Barnes, both from the Meridian area. He spent many of his early years in Atlanta, Arlington, VA, and Nashville. He graduated from high school in in Tennessee, then completed two college degrees in Reston, Virginia.

Dennis returned to Meridian in 1983, where he worked for both Long Wholesale and East Mississippi State Hospital for many years. Dennis was well known for his love of science fiction, comics and the Japanese hand-drawn or computer animation called “anime.” He attended fan conventions all over the Southeast, including DragonCon in Atlanta and was a true fan of “Ghosts in the Shell,” another Japanese animated manga series.

An accomplished artist, Dennis will be remembered for his quick wit, his warm optimism in the face of a long medical struggle and his love of God, his family and his friends.

Dennis was preceded in death by his mother, Jean Tatum Barnes; and is survived by his father, Harry H. Barnes of Meridian; his brother, Bruce Barnes of Greensburg, KY; his aunt, Carolyn Lockwood of Meridian; his niece, Elizabeth Barnes of Louisville, KY; and a host of loving cousins.

The family asks that memorials be given to the Cancer Patient Benevolence Fund at Anderson Regional Cancer Center, AndersonRegional.org.

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