"The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord ." (Job 1:21b NKJV)

Lionel Keith Barnes, the oldest child of Margaret Aull Nelson Ford and Joseph Nelson, Sr., was born on July 7, 1955, in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. He was later reared and adopted by Beulah Mae Aull Barnes and Rev. Robert Barnes. After the death of Robert Barnes, he was reared by Rev. Guy Washington. The Lord called him home on Saturday, January 7, 2023, in Columbia, South Carolina.

He was educated in the public schools of Berkley County and graduated from St. Stephen High School - Class of 1974. He matriculated at Denmark Technical College, Denmark, South Carolina and graduated with a degree in Auto Mechanics in 1976.

At an early age, Lionel accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior and joined St. Mary Holiness Church in St. Stephen where he faithfully served as drummer and guitarist.  He also sang in the choir.  With his family, he attended Bethel United Methodist Church, St. Stephen, and later Bluff Road United Methodist Church, Columbia, South Carolina.

Lionel worked as an auto mechanic and long distance truck driver until he moved to Columbia. He was employed at PepsiCo. Everywhere he lived, he served as the neighborhood mechanic. He is a former member of the Prince Hall Mason.

He was married to the former Constance Nelson and to this union Aprel was born.  They lived in St. Stephen until moving to Columbia, South Carolina.

Fishing, listening to old-school music, making jokes, being with his friends and family, and watching the news were some of Lionel's favorite activities. He had an engaging and inviting personality. These qualities made him charming and quite popular. He never met a stranger. He was known to call and check on family members and friends, and never forgot a birthday or holiday. He loved spending quality time with Aprel at concerts, restaurants, and just hanging out giving her unsolicited fatherly advice.  He was her personal meteorologist; calling her often to provide updates on impending inclement weather.  He was also her holiday decorator; putting up and taking down her Christmas tree and lights.

He was preceded in death by his father and stepfather: Joseph Nelson, Sr., and Samuel Ford; adoptive parents: Beulah Barnes Washington, Rev. Robert Barnes, and Rev. Guy Washington; siblings: adoptive brothers, John Henry and Thomas Barnes; sister Novella Shannon, grandparents: Moses and Katherine Wallace Aull; aunt and uncles: Mary Randolph, Frank Nelson, Bernard Aull, and Moses "Junior" Aull, Jr., and mother and father-in-law: Joseph and Mary McKnight Nelson.

Lionel will forever be remembered by his devoted and loving daughter Dr. Aprel Barnes, Columbia, SC; mother Margaret Ford, St. Stephen, SC; siblings: Rodney (Doris) Nelson, Littleton, NC;  Ramona Nelson Murray, St. Stephen, SC; Darlene Barnes Montgomery, Columbia, SC; Leslie (Jan) Nelson, Villarica, GA, and Joseph (Tameeka) Nelson, Jr., Marietta, GA; aunts and uncles: Maybell (Rudolph) Bynums, New York; Elijah (Thelma) Aull, Queens, NY; Charlie Randolph, New York; Bertha Nelson, Moncks Corner, SC;  sisters-in-law Dorothy Barnes, St. Stephen, SC, and Octavia Nelson, Franklinton, NC;  a special friend Nicole Harris, Columbia, SC; Aprel's mother: Rev. Constance Nelson Barnes McLeod (Jacob), Walterboro, SC; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, loving relatives, and friends.

"See You Later!"

His Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, January 21, 2023, 12:00 p.m., at Bethel United Methodist Church, 1245 Forty One Road, St. Stephen, SC. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Viewing will be held Friday, January 20, 2023, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the funeral home (Moncks Corner). Face masks are required.

The service will be live streamed on the funeral home's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/gethersfh

The family will receive friends at 130 Stretch Lane, St. Stephen, SC on Friday, January 20, 2023, beginning at 12:00 p.m.