Janie Bee Barrett

Janie Bee Barrett, 76, of Benton Harbor passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 10, 2020 at The Timbers of Cass County, Dowagiac. Janie was born December 27, 1943 to Solomon Cooper and Dora Mae Ross in Hayti, Missouri. At age four, she moved to Benton Harbor. She accepted the Lord as her savior at an early age. She married Charlie Barrett a WWII Veteran March 18, 1964 and he preceded her in death on July 18, 1971. She always said she would get her GED before her youngest son graduated from high school and she proudly received it weeks before in 1990. She worked at numerous jobs in the agricultural, construction, and food service industry working night shifts to see her kids off to school each morning. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, playing solitaire, saving animals (pet turtle-Stevie) and most of all family time. Janie was a kind, compassionate, fearless and gentle soul who lived her life as a testimony to Christian principles and values. She will be remembered for being a loving, dedicated mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who gave her all for her family. She will be deeply missed and forever in our hearts. She is survived by eight children: Sons - Willie (Cathelene) Campbell-Barrett of Garland, Texas; Charles Barrett of Hobart, Indiana; Christopher Barrett and Cecil Barrett of Benton Harbor. Daughters - Carol (Alton) Phillips Sr. of Greensboro, North Carolina; Connie Barrett, Sandra Barrett, and Cindy (Joseph) Taylor of Benton Harbor. Thirteen grandchildren: Crystal Poole, Alton (Chanel) Phillips Jr., Dezire Becke, Dejuan Becke, Charles Poole, Constance McCoy, Jonathan Campbell, Brittany Phillips, Corey Isom, Joseph Taylor Jr., Jordan Phillips, Joshawn Taylor, Lakesha (Kenneth) Sindle and 18 great- grandchildren as well as a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, family and friends. Janie was preceded in death by her parents Solomon Cooper and Dora Mae Ross, son Jerry Barrett, adoptive parents Walter (Geneva) Campbell Sr., brother Theodore Cooper, Uncle Thomas (Hessie) Ross, and special friend Ernest McCall. She is survived by her brothers Lonzo (Lucinda) Boykin of Chicago, Illinois and Walter Campbell Jr. of Battle Creek, sister Mertha J. Shoat of Independence, Kansas, and God sisters Hazel (Joseph) Griffin Sr. and Margaret Batiest of Benton Harbor. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the staff at The Timbers of Cass County for their love and support. Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel, St. Joseph. Those wishing to send condolences online may do so at www.starks-mechinger.com. Friends may visit with family from noon to 1:00 p.m., Monday, Dec. 21 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. The service will be held at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home and burial will follow immediately after at Crystal Springs Cemetery. A repass will not be held at this time.