Titus Sinclair Barnes
b. 12 January 1916, d. 9 August 2001
- Father: Carl Barnes b. 20 July 1895, d. 17 February 1962
- Mother: Maxey Baldtrip b. 3 August 1895, d. 19 April 1982
- Titus Sinclair Barnes was born on 12 January 1916 in Houston, Harris County, Texas.
- Carl Barnes and Maxey Baldtrip appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Houston, Harris County, Texas, at 724 West 22nd Avenue. Other members of the household included Titus Sinclair Barnes, Timothy Benjamin Barnes, Thomas Jean Barnes and Cornelius Leon Barnes.
- Carl Barnes and Maxey Baldtrip appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Houston, Harris County, Texas, at 2121 Nashua Street. Other members of the household included Titus Sinclair Barnes, Timothy Benjamin Barnes, Thomas Jean Barnes and Cornelius Leon Barnes.
- A photographic portrait was made about 1932 of the children of Carl and Maxey Barnes.
- He married Victoria Turner.
- Carl Barnes and Maxey Baldtrip appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Houston, Harris County, Texas, at 2121 Nashua. Other members of the household included Titus Sinclair Barnes, Victoria Turner.
- He was employed at his father's funeral home as an embalmer, according to the 1940 census.
- Titus Sinclair Barnes became a widower at the 29 January 1997 death of his wife Victoria Turner.
- Titus Sinclair Barnes died on 9 August 2001 at age 85.
- The following appeared on 13 August 2001 in the Houston Chronicle: Titus Barnes Sr., a longtime mortician and an owner of one of the largest black funeral homes in the state, died Thursday. He was 85.
Barnes died of prostate cancer, a family member said.
Barnes was born Jan. 12, 1916, in Houston. After graduating in 1932 from Booker T. Washington High School, he went to work for the family business.
The Carl Barnes Funeral Home opened in the Heights neighborhood at 747 W. 22nd St. in 1932. Barnes, his parents, Carl and Maxey, and brother Timothy were all involved in the funeral home's operation.
"When he started working with my grandfather he saw that he really loved the business, but at first he wanted to be a doctor," said daughter Bertha Barnes Dinkins.
Carl Barnes sent his son to embalming school in Chicago to enhance the business, although it was not a state law at that time that corpses be embalmed. Titus Barnes graduated from the Worsham College of Embalming in 1935.
As the business expanded, a larger site was needed, so the business was set up across the street at its current location, 746 W. 22nd St. The original site was made into a parking lot.
In 1962, Titus and Timothy Barnes took over the business when Carl Barnes died.
Titus Barnes was honored as professional of the year by the Independent Funeral Directors Association of Texas in 1997. In its research, the association found that Barnes operated one of the largest black funeral homes in Texas.
In his later years as his health declined, Barnes became president emeritus of the funeral home. He retired about six years ago but continued to work as a mortician whenever his health allowed.
Barnes was also deacon and trustee of the Williams Temple Woodard Cathedral Church of God in Christ. An original founder of the church, he arranged and had conducted more than 200 services a year until he became ill, his daughter said. He was a major contributor of the church's new building.
He was also a member of the local and state Funeral Directors Association and served as a board member of the National Funeral Directors Association from 1962 to 1964. He was appointed by Felton H. Pernell, another Houston funeral director, who was president of the association at that time.
Barnes was also an active member of the Houston Heights Civic Club and the Booker T. Washington Alumni Association. Dinkins is the current president of the association.
Barnes enjoyed deep sea fishing, baseball and basketball. He played the trombone and loved to sing. Clients would often ask that he sing a few songs during services at his funeral home.
Barnes and his late wife, Victoria Turner, were married in 1937. In addition to Dinkins, his survivors include son Titus Barnes Jr. and daughters Carol Barnes Dixon, Sharon Barnes Williams, Cassandra Barnes Mallett and Cari V. Barnes.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, 746 W. 22nd. A memorial service will be conducted at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Williams Temple Woodard Cathedral Church of God in Christ, 2524 Delano. Visitation begins at 6 p.m. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Williams Temple Woodard Cathedral Church of God in Christ, 2524 Delano. - He was interred at Golden Gate Cemetery, Houston, Harris County, Texas.
- Last Edited: 27 Aug 2013