Mr. Gene Barnette, 81, left this earthly existence on Sunday, the Jan. 20, 2023, “after several years of declining health.” His body lay in a closed casket at The Wood Mortuary in Greer, SC, on Wed., Jan. 25. Barbara and I stood in a long line to speak with Mrs. Sandra Alexander Barnette, his wife of 59 years, and his family. Gene and Sandra attended Praise Cathedral in Greer.
A solid Christian, Carl Eugene “Gene” Barnette attended Faith Temple (FT) as a young man and played a cornet in the church band.
Eager to join the FT band in 1958, I used my dad’s trumpet and began taking seventh-grade band at Davenport Jr. High in Greer, SC. Before long, I began playing at church, sitting beside Gene Barnette, who was 5 or 6 years older than I and played a cornet. (A cornet and a trumpet are almost the same; a trumpet is longer than a cornet.)
“You have to transpose one note higher,” Gene told me.
“What?” I thought. When playing music written for piano, trumpeters have to play one note higher than the piano music — it’s about notes being written to suit instruments. I learned to “transpose” notes and make music at church. Gene and I sometimes joined in duets. He played the soprano part; I played alto, the lower part. We praised God through instruments (extensions of human voices).
Some songs our church band played were “Count Your Blessings,” “Looking for a City,” and “Onward Christian Soldiers.” Many churches have quit singing “Onward Christian Soldiers” because its words sound too military, they say. But “spiritual warfare” realities cause us to use analogies. Didn’t Paul tell Timothy, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (II Tim. 2:3 KJV)?
Music tastes and styles change. Stringed instruments and synthesizers are likely to be found today in many churches. Music is still a wonderful way to praise God and unify — at least while folk are singing — a congregation. “Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing” (Psalm 100:2 ESV).
Pastor Jerry Madden and Pastor Bobby Lord conducted Gene’s funeral at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, providing comforting words for Gene and Sandra’s children: Angela Hagan and Nathan Barnette (and Jada, Nathan’s wife). I greeted Gene’s sister, Mrs. Margaret Rainey and her husband, Mr. Jim Rainey. Margaret was part of FT’s youth group when we played summertime softball at Greer City Park.
Born in Greenville, SC, Gene graduated from Taylors High School in 1959 and pursued a career in accounting. He was diligent, serving “in various churches as a praise and worship leader, trumpet player, deacon, elder, finance committee, and a children’s outreach bus driver,” his obituary noted.
Some folk don’t like to say the word “die” when someone expires. I use the euphemism “passed on.” A euphemism is a mild expression used instead of a harsher word. “Passed on” indicates that a friend didn’t just cease to exist. Instead, he passed on to another place — heaven, for those who place faith in Jesus.
When a friend passes, I often think of these words to the song “If We Never Meet Again” by Albert E. Brumley:
“Soon we’ll come to the end of life’s journey / And perhaps we’ll never meet any more / Till we gather in Heaven’s bright city / Far away on that beautiful shore.
“If we never meet again this side of Heaven / As we struggle through this world and it’s strife / There’s another meeting place somewhere in Heaven / By the side of the river of life / Where the charming roses bloom forever / And where separations come no more / If we never meet again this side of Heaven / I will meet you on that beautiful shore.”
I plan, someday, to meet Gene Barnette “on that beautiful shore,” and if they have cornets or trumpets there — and I think they do — maybe Gene and l will play another duet, and we’ll sound better than ever. ###
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