Barnes Family Donates Land to Local Church

The Barnes family and Maxine Whitley, owners of Barnes Farming Corporation, donated a portion of their farmland for the expansion of Sandy Fork Missionary Baptist Church’s cemetery.

The cemetery has been located adjacent to the Barnes’ land for decades and has been the final resting place for many Black community members, church congregants, and employees of Barnes Farming. The donation comes after a contribution of a similar size was given by Maxine Whitley and the late Carson Barnes more than 10 years ago. The additional acre will allow for the church to lay to rest congregants and will ensure family members are able to be buried together for years to come.

“We are happy to support our community through Sandy Fork Missionary Baptist Church of Nash County. The cemetery has been the final resting place for numerous employees and friends,” said Johnny Barnes, President of Barnes Farming. “This donation is a tribute to the church and how well they maintain their cemetery, and we revere its importance to the local Black community.”

“We are sincerely grateful for the Barnes family and Mrs. Whitley’s generous donation of one acre of land added to our church cemetery,” said Willie Anderson, Cemetery Director. “The gift is not only valuable to our church, but to the community as a whole.”

Barnes Farming Corporation was founded in Nash County in 1960 with just ⅜ acre by Carson Barnes and Maxine Whitley. Today, it is one of the largest farming operations in North Carolina.

Sandy Fork Missionary Baptist Church of Nash County is a historically Black church. It was founded in 1918 and serves Nash and Wilson counties