Phillip Gregory "Greg" Barnes was born on February 16, 1950 to the late Johnny and Pinkie (Craig) Barnes. As a boy growing up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he was an avid baseball and basketball player. He enjoyed friendly competition with his older brother Johnny and whenever he needed reinforcements he would call on his older sister Betty. Greg was educated in the Fort Wayne Public School System. He graduated from South Side High School and attended Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, OH where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. He began his teaching career at Ben F. Geyer Middle School, his alma mater. He would later move to Washington, D.C. where he would begin taking courses towards a Master''s degree at Trinity Washington University. Greg continued his teaching career in the District of Columbia Public School System.
In 1985, he moved to Atlanta, GA where he began a new career in hotel management working for the Marriott Corporation and a new start by joining Alcoholics Anonymous. In 1987, he returned to his hometown of Fort Wayne to help run the family business, Family Market. He continued working at Family Market until the business was dissolved. In March 1999, he was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. On Tuesday, June 26, 2012, he lost his battle with the disease.
Greg is survived by three children, Nicole (Barnes) Nelson, Phnesha (Barnes) Dixon, and Phillip G. Barnes Jr., two son-in-laws, John Nelson and Garrick Dixon; four grandchildren John, Naomi, Gabrielle and Gianna; devoted nieces Lesley (Milton) Treesh, Shanika Perry and Jamiene "MiMi" Hicks; three brothers: Van Barnes of Marion, IN, Arthur Barnes of Chicago, IL and Johnny Barnes of Washington, D.C., one sister Betty (Barnes) Milton of Fort Wayne, IN, a sister-in-law, Catherine Barnes of Fort Wayne, IN, two aunts and a host of nieces, and nephews and cousins. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be given to the Visiting Nurses & Hospice Homes of Fort Wayne, Indiana in his memory.
Calling is 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Monday July 2, 2012 at the Covington Memorial Funeral Home 8408 Covington Rd. Service is at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Mike Tarr officiating. Burial will be in Covington Memorial Gardens Cemetery.