Harold Thomas Barnett

Mr. Harold Thomas Barnett, 94 years old of Moreland, GA, passed away on July 20, 2022. He was one of five siblings born to Thomas Andrew and Edna Earle Barnett on January 7, 1928, in LaGrange, GA. The family moved to Pine Mountain Valley, GA in 1936 to become part of the Pine Mountain Valley Resettlement project which was part of the Roosevelt Administration's New Deal. His youth was spent working on the family farm, hunting and fishing the hills and streams of Pine Mountain. Harold (known as Pappy to many) was drafted while still in high school in 1945. Once graduated he opted to join the U. S. Marines. After basic training at Paris Island, he was shipped without advanced training to the South Pacific where he was one of two 7-men crews that secured and maintained Pagan Island. On Pagan, he got his first taste of construction work and was a quick study on operating equipment. Upon his discharge and returning home he went to school on the GI Bill, learned to become an electrician, and found a job with Callaway Mills in LaGrange. In 1950 during the Korean Conflict, he was recalled to service and spent an additional 13 months as an active Marine Sargent. He was always proud to be a Marine and embodied the phrase Semper Fi in everything he did. Just prior to returning to service he met and within seven days married Margaret Vonceil Pitts just ten days before reporting for duty. A war time marriage that many family members said would never last, was still lasting 69 years later when his bride passed away. During his service their first child Sylvia was born. Upon discharge he returned to Callaway Mills. He found a maintenance job with the Richardson Company in Newnan and moved his family to Newnan. He had hitchhiked through the town of Moreland many times while in service and always thought to himself how one day he would like to live in the quiet sleepy town. The couple bought a lot near Moreland in the 1950's, built a house and became a part of the community. In 1956 Tom was born and Allen in 1961. Harold became a Christian in 1958 and never looked back, joined Bethlehem Baptist Church and later the family became founding members of Emmanuel Baptist where he served as Church Clerk for many years, taught Sunday School, directed Brother Hood, and was instrumental in building many of the projects around the grounds. He was always involved as long as he was able. In more recent years he joined Raymond Baptist. Harold started his own electrical contracting company in the 1960's and worked until he was 80 years old. He was one of the first City of Newnan electricians to take the electrical exam in the 1960's and became qualified to serve in the area. He was known for his Christian ethics, knowledge of the codes, electrical theory, workmanship, honesty, dependability, and his dry sense of humor. He was also very independent and never backed down from a situation if he thought he was right even if it cost him. He was quick to invite his customers to church and to share a quick witness or plant a seed. He is preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Vonceil; four siblings, Bobbie, Ray, John, and Joann; his parents; many friends and church family. He is survived by his children, Sylvia (Tommy), Tom (Cindy), Allen (Janet); grandchildren, Marvin Yeager, Lesley Yeager, Andrew Barnett (Jessica), Erin Beard (Daniel), Kyle Lovell; great grandchildren, Mackenzie and Liam Barnett, two year old apple of his eye Barker Beard; brother in-law, Ansley Pierce; sister in-law, Barbara Barnett; many nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be conducted at 4:00 p.m., Sunday, July 24, in the Chapel of Claude A. McKibben and Sons Funeral Home in Hogansville. Interment will be at the Barnett Family Cemetery on his beloved Moccasin Road farm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International, Coweta Camp. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Saturday, July 23rd. Condolences may be expressed at www.mckibbenfuneralhome.com Claude A. McKibben and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.