Ernestine Barnett

What do you call someone who could make something spectacular out of nothing, could make you laugh at your saddest moment, cook food that rivaled anything produced in a fine dining restaurant, and sing like an angel? Her friends and family called her Delo; we simply called her Mom.
Deloris Meaders Barnett, 91, died Wednesday, January 23, 2019, in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
Delo was born on February 23, 1927 in Meridian, Mississippi, the oldest daughter of Ralph Iving Meaders and Ernestine Ennis Meaders. Her younger sister Norma Clair joined the family two years later. She grew up in Meridian and graduated from Meridian High School in 1945. Her creative and entrepreneurial spirit showed itself at a young age when she formed a vocal quartet with three of her classmates to make extra money. The group performed for church groups and civic organizations in the Meridian area, and at the Neshoba County Fair.
After high school, she received an Associate of Business degree from Meridian Junior College and embarked upon a successful business career as an administrative assistant and bookkeeper. Delo made the most of this fun and happy time in her life, enjoying socializing with friends, dancing and travel.
On one such social occasion she was introduced to the love of her life, a young man from Gulfport, Bill Barnett, who she married in 1956. After their marriage, Bill and Delo settled on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. She loved the Coast and enthusiastically embraced the lifestyle and culture of her new home.
Upon the birth of her first child, Delo became a fulltime mother and homemaker. As she did with all her pursuits, our mother threw herself fully into raising her children and making a happy home for her family. She was a supremely talented and innovative home chef who could cook anything and everything. Delo prided herself on being able to create a delicious meal for a crowd out of practically nothing. When told the parable of the Loaves and Fishes in our children's Sunday School class, we didn't understand that it was a miracle since we had seen our mother produce a meal from seemingly nothing on many occasions!
After raising her children, Delo resumed her business career as Office Manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 903 in Gulfport.
Our mother was the most creative person we ever met, and her creativity wasn't just limited to the kitchen. As a child of the Great Depression, her creativity was born of necessity. She could make something useful from the simplest of things: a false fireplace and mantle for our Christmas stockings from a cardboard box; a scooter from a pair of old roller skates and some scraps of lumber; and a microwave stand from a discarded old wooden television cabinet.
Delo also had a wicked sense of humor. She loved to hear a joke and tell a joke - the bawdier the better. Our mother was a lifelong Democrat, progressive, and feminist, and taught us to treat all people with dignity and respect. Her favorite motto was "It doesn't cost anything to be nice to people." We are all better for having known her.
Our father preceded mother in death, as did her parents and her sister Norma Meaders Zachry. She is survived by her daughters, Norma Barnett Dees (Steve) of Gulfport, Mary Barnett Labens (Darryl) of Austin, TX and Robin Barnett and her husband Randall Hicks of Long Beach; and four granddaughters: Lanie Labens of Los Angeles, CA; Lili Labens of Austin, TX; Claudia Hicks and Emma Hicks of Long Beach.
We would like to give special thanks to the staffs at Dunbar Village and Southern Care Hospice for the loving care they gave our mother.
Family and friends are invited to a visitation and a celebration of our mother's life at RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 19130 Commission Road, Long Beach, on Saturday, January 26, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.
An online obituary may be viewed and memories and photos shared at www.riemannfamily.com