Obituary

Mattie Violetta was born to the late William Henry and Viola Cleo Phillips on July 13, 1926. She was born the fourth child of fifteen children. She attended primary and secondary education in Morris, Oklahoma and she graduated as class valedictorian. She later attended cosmetology school and earned her state license in Cosmetology.

In 1946 she married the late Shannon Barnett Sr. and this union was blessed with four girls and three boys. Mattie embraced being the matriarch of her family. As a young mother and wife, Mattie was baptized into the Church of Christ at the East Virgin St Church of Christ. There she taught Sunday school, was a part of the prison ministry and the adult chorus. In the late 1980’s she transferred her membership to North Peoria Church of Christ where she remained a faithful servant of God. At the time of her passing she had recently been honored as the most senior member at the North Peoria Church of Christ congregation.

As a virtuous woman of faith, Mattie reared her children in the way of the Lord Jesus Christ. She worked out of her home and in a hair Salon to provide for her family. She enjoyed listening to and singing gospel songs, quilting, traveling, cooking, and caring for others. She truly believed in the Lord, she was a praying mother and grandmother.

At any given time she was ready to have bible class to spread God’s word and bring souls to Christ. One of her favorite books of the Bible was Mark, specifically the fourth chapter. Throughout her life whenever she was going through trials and tribulations she would say “Peace be still”. Until she was physically unable, Mattie would get on her knees every night and thank God for all of his blessings. One of her greatest joys was seeing her father baptized into the church when he was in his late 80’s.

Mattie is preceded in death by her oldest daughter and oldest son: Vinetta Linwood and Alvin Barnett Sr., granddaughter, Felicia Chapman, grandson, Michael Glover, seven brothers: Edgar, Asborne, William, Wilber, Benjamin, Lester and Leroy Phillips and five sisters: Bertha Wynn, Marcella Grimes, Zenobia Walden, Wynonia Phillips and Helen Haney.

On October 9, 2019 Mattie Violetta Barnett completed her 93 year journey of life. She leaves to cherish her life and mourn her departure two sons: Calvin Barnett Sr. (McAlester, Oklahoma) and Shannon (wife, Linda) Barnett Jr., (Alexandria, Virginia), three Daughters: Dynette Clark (Duncanville, Texas), Pauletta Brown (Bedford, Texas), Phyllis Smith (Fort Worth, Texas), fourteen grandchildren, forty one great grandchildren, twelve great great grandchildren, one brother Ruben Phillips (Tulsa, Oklahoma), one sister Ester Jean Asbury, (Tulsa, Oklahoma) and a host of nephews, nieces and other relatives.