DeBorah Florence Barnwell, the fifth and last child of Pastor Odell &
Missionary Clovis Barnwell was born on November 4, 1961 and
departed this life on October 30, 2025. If you had asked her, she
would have said that Daddy and Mama saved the best for last (lol).
Born and reared in Atlanta, Georgia, DeBorah was a very gifted
student and enjoyed playing saxophone in the B.T. Washington High
School Marching Band as well as at her Alma Mater, North Carolina
A&T State University where she earned a B.S in Business
Administration and Marketing.
- Ministerial calling: Ordained in the United Methodist Church, she served multiple pastoral appointments across Virginia.
- Service and care: Worked as a police chaplain and vocational rehabilitation counselor, ministering to the brokenhearted and captives.
- Family and legacy: Passionate family historian and connector, survived by siblings and remembered for wit, sociability, and deep relationships.
She earned her Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Christian
Education, Ethics and Pastoral Counseling from ITC Gammon
Theological Seminary – Atlanta, GA. She answered the call to ministry
during a time when her foundational denomination, the Church of
God in Christ, was not open to ordaining female clergy as pastors.
DeBorah found an open door in the United Methodist Church –
Virginia Conference – where her
appointments included the following:
Full Time Local Pastor – Highland Park UMC (2002-2006)
Richmond, VA
Associate Pastor – Community UMC (2006-2010) VA Beach, VA
Full Time Local Pastor – Cherryvale UMC (2010-2014) Staunton,
VA
While living in Arizona, DeBorah served as a Chaplain for a Police
Department. She earned a certificate in Substance Abuse/Addiction
Counseling from Baltimore City Community College. Her most recent
employment was as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in
Savannah, GA. These are but a few examples of how she ministered to
the brokenhearted and preached deliverance to the captives. She lived
her life in service to others.
DeBorah was able to check off a major item on her bucket list: A visit
to Egypt! She was quick witted, very sociable and entertaining. To
know her was to love her. She will be greatly missed.
Her parents and eldest sister, Mary Barnwell Melvin, preceded her in
the transition from this realm to life everlasting. DeBorah was
passionate about compiling and documenting her family’s history. A
networker extraordinaire, many of us are here today because she took
time and effort to engage in substantive relationships across boundaries.
DeBorah is survived by her brother, Elder Odell (Schenita) Barnwell,
Jr. of Conyers, GA and sisters, Rev. Dr. Ann (Onaje) Allen, of
Nashville, TN and Dr. Lydia (Pastor Fred) Lewis of Grand Blanc, MI
and a multitude of relatives, friends and colleagues.
Scripture for meditation: And they that be wise shall shine as the
brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness
as the stars for ever and ever. Daniel 12:3
More information can be found at Dorchester Funeral home.
