Martin Anthony(Tony) Barnes, age 47, passed away peacefully with his wife Cheryl Barnes at his side on Friday, August 29, 2014 at Florida Hospital after battling a long illness.

He was born in Chicago, Illinois on March 19, 1967 to Waneta Northern (Barnes) and James Chism. He grew up in South Bend, Indiana and attended Indiana University Bloomington, where he met Cheryl. They were married on December 24, 1991. After receiving his Master's Degree in Social Work, he relocated his family to Orlando, Florida and pursued his goal of helping troubled children. The family was also members of East Coast Believers Church.
He will always be remembered for his work ethic, his love of sports, especially football, his even greater love for his family and his huge brilliant smile.

He is preceded in death by his grandfather, Amos Barnes , Senior, his cousins Kevin Micah Bowles and Tiffany Wallace. He is survived by his parents, Waneta and James, his loving wife, Cheryl, his two devoted sons, Malcolm, 17, Miles, 10 and his daughter Kyndra Billingsley, 27 and two grandchildren. His surviving siblings include Mercedes Guyse (Northern), Marco Barnes, Katherine Chism Evans, Kalin Bowles and Larissa Buggs. His uncles and aunts: Emanuel Barnes, Dorothy Bowles, Ophelia Bell, Alethea Greer and Amos Barnes will also miss him dearly, as well as his grandmother, Mrs. Dorothy K. Barnes. He is also survived by members of Cheryl's family: her mother, Sandra Blackburn and Cheryl's siblings, Denise Blackburn, Erika Blackburn and Jefferson Blackburn III. Finally, he is survived by his friends who will all miss him dearly.

Visitation will be at DeGuispe Funeral Home and Crematory on Friday, September 5 between 5-6 with a brief celebration of his life and reception to follow.

His wife would like to thank the staff at Florida Hospital Orlando, Davita Dialysis and most especially Dr. Robert Sullivan and his nurse Sherry for their tender care over the years. She would also like to thank Francine Gherman for her support and care of Martin.

A memorial fund has been established for his family – Martin Anthony Barnes Memorial Fund, which is accessible through the following link: https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/vyl5/martin-anthony-barnes-memorial-fund .