Mr. Clairmont Jerome “Pops” Barnes of Columbus, GA passed Sunday, April 14, 2024.

Public viewing will be Wednesday, April 24, 2024 from 3 - 5 p.m. EST at Taylor Funeral Home, Phenix City, AL.

Jerry “Pops” Barnes was born on June 10, 1943, to the late Pauline White and Eugene Barnes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The second oldest of five. “Pops” was raised by his grandmother, Ms. Mary J. White. Pops often expressed how his relationship with his grandmother significantly shaped his worldview and implanted the seeds of justice, compassion, and determination, all of which would become the hallmarks of his life.

Pops took his first step towards a life of service when he joined the Army National Guard and later enlisted into the US Army in 1977. A natural leader, Pops quickly rose through the ranks and retired as a Master Sergeant in 1996.

After retiring from the military, Pops decided to obtain his second bachelor’s degree. With compassion and determination leading the way, Pops obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Columbus State University at the ripe young age of 57!

In 2003, he started the Pan Columbus Wellness Project, a community service initiative to provide free health education, screening, and case management.

In 2004, with a heart that yearned for justice, Pops heeded the call to run for city council. With determination in his heart, Pops knocked on every door in his district, clinching the win to become the city councilor for District One.

As a Councilor, he reopened the Boxwood, Belvedere Park, and Primus Recreation centers for youth, spearheaded the charge to hire 100 additional police officers to dramatically cut the city's crime rate, and opened a precinct in the heart of District 1.

Pops had a steadfast passion for working with Veterans and Seniors. He restarted the Veterans Day Parade in 2010. In addition to his love for Veterans, he advocated tirelessly for individuals living with mental illness. His passion for seniors led him to start a senior advocacy group that focused on helping seniors keep their benefits. Since 2014, he periodically hosted the Focus on Health series from the studios of CCG-TV to provide health/wellness education and awareness information to all citizens in the tri-county viewing area.

He also launched a youth vocational training program entitled “Opportunity to Get Ahead” using his own campaign funds, reformed the city’s policy to allow the hiring of non-violent offenders, and consistently addressed right-of-way upkeep, drainage, street resurfacing, and pothole issues throughout the district on behalf of residents.

Since 2020, Pops has co-hosted the Health and Community Tips series for the week every Monday on Facebook Live. He regularly invited special guests to the show to provide valuable and practical information to not only Columbus, Georgia, and Phenix City, Alabama, but to a multitude of Facebook users everywhere.

Known as the hardest-working elected official, Pop's accomplishments will stand the test of time, but despite his accomplishments, his greatest accomplishment was being a proud husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Pops leaves behind his wife of 31 years Jannie Mae Barnes; eight children, Cheryl, Clairmont (Colleen), Simi, Mary (Kennan), Robbi, Carla (Jeff), Phydellis(Veronica), and Bruce; thirteen grandchildren, and nineteen great-grandchildren.

He went to eternal rest in Atlanta, GA, on April 14, 2024. He was preceded in death by his sister, Pauline “Sweetie” Campbell, and brother, Paul Barnes.

List of Honors and Accomplishments

2016 Family Caregiver Award

2018 Living Legends Award

2019 United States Postal Service Purple Heart Award

2020 Distinguished Older Georgian Award

2021 New Horizons Behavioral Health Impact Award

2023 Columbus State University (CSU) Legacy Award

2023 Columbus State University Alumni Award

2023 River Valley Regional Commission Council Chairman Appreciation Award