Our beloved mother, Dr. Frances J. Barnes, passed away on May 31, 2025 at the age of 104 years old surrounded by family. She was born in Culpepper, Virginia to John Henry Johnson and Sadie Stewart. Frances spent most of her childhood and teen years in Washington, DC where she later attended Howard University. She graduated with honors and received a BA degree. She then went on to obtain MA and EdD degrees from Columbia University in New York City. She is predeceased by her late husband, Roland E. Barnes and her longtime companion, Charles Wiggins. She is survived by two daughters, Sylvia-Lynn Craig (Jeff Bender) and Lora Bethea (Damon); four grandchildren, Darrell Craig (Dilpreet Kaur), Noel Craig, April Turner, and Jarrett Turner (Chrissy); and 12 great grandchildren. Her professional career was spent educating children in nursery school, elementary and secondary special needs and visually impaired classrooms, and later serving as an educational consultant.  Frances founded the Barnes-Draine Endowed Scholarship Fund at Howard University and the Teach Love Fund through the POISE Foundation. Both funds focus on how to teach individuals to love themselves and others. In 1976, Frances edited an anthology of love poems and prose entitled, LOVE from Black Men to Black Women. She followed that with a second anthology, LOVE from Black Women to Black Men. She wrote a column for about 10 years called Dialogue of Love for a small local paper. From 1980-1991 Frances was appointed by Governor Richard Thornburgh as the first public member and first woman to the Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission. In 2007, Frances described herself as a “professional volunteer” and focused her time and energy on furthering causes she believed in by serving on boards of a variety of community organizations. She touched the lives of many people both directly and indirectly throughout the Pittsburgh area. For the past ten years, the staff of Seneca Manor lovingly cared for and nurtured Frances and more recently the Suncrest Hospice staff lovingly attended to her until she transitioned. Frances’ family asks that she be remembered for the love she brought to others in life and not the sadness of her passing. She will forever be in our hearts and her legacy of love will live on through our family. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Foundation, Pittsburgh Chapter, Pittsburgh office and/or to Seneca Manor (where Frances lived for 10 years) where the funds will be used to provide needed assistance to residents- look for the yellow basket at the memorial service. Your memory is our keepsake with which we will never part. God has you in his keeping. We have you in our hearts. Memorial Service, June 28, 2025,  11am-1pm at the Rose Funeral Home & Cremation Services