Matilda Jane Yates Barnett

Matilda was born on March 3, 1913, to James Bullock Yates and Una Honea Yates of Sontag, Mississippi. She was a member of a Baptist Church when she received the gift of the Holy Ghost at home, in 1931, at the age of 18. It was not until 1939, however, that she was baptized in the Name of Jesus.

In October 1931, she married Otho Barnett of Magee, Mississippi. They had three sons: Billy, Bobby, and Jerry. Sister Barnett began her preaching ministry about 1940. She assisted in several churches: Monticello, Georgetown, Springhill near Wesson, and Columbia. Her pastoral duties included pastoring at Pine Grove, or as it was known then, The Barn. She also pastored at Oak Grove, Jayess, Mississippi, in 1949, but left after a time. In the 1950s, she pastored a little wooden church out in the country from Georgetown. She returned to Oak Grove Pentecostal Church in 1978 and pastored until she was involved in an auto accident, which ended her ministry in 1991.

Her husband, Otho, was taken home to be with Jesus on February 17, 1991. We salute Sister Matilda J. Barnett for her many years of faithfully laboring for the Kingdom of God. Her earthly journey ended January 18, 1999.

Article from Mississippi Torch, July 1991.