Columbus City Council and officials remember Councilor Jerry ‘Pops’ Barnes
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — Columbus City Council met Tuesday night and they spent the first hour and a half remembering one of their own. Just over a week ago, Councilor Jerry ‘Pops’ Barnes passed away.
Barnes represented District 1 and had served on city council since 2004. Barnes, a U.S. Army Veteran, was recognized for his work in the community, especially giving back to other veterans.
Here’s what his colleagues had to say about the highly respected man he was.
Losing people is hard. It’s really hard. I sat just listening to you all, and listening to Councilor Cogle and knowing that my friend is gone. The person that sat next to me and asked me ‘Toyia, what did they say? Read this to me. Explain this to me. Show me what they’re talking about. Where are we at Toyia?’ I’m not going to hear that anymore. I’m not going to hear that anymore.
Toyia Tucker, Columbus City Councilor, District 4
I’m saddened. I don’t do these things very well. I can do a lot of things well. But I don’t do this kind of stuff well. I’m going to miss my friend. I’m saddened, but celebrating that I know he’s in a better place. I’m glad we’re doing this for him. Pops was concerned about mental health care. That’s what he did. He took care of people in crisis, and he did that to the day he died. Matter of fact, the people that he worked with and taken care of, they took care of him and helped him in his dying days.
Glenn Davis, Columbus City Councilor, District 2
Pops was a 20-year veteran with the Vietnam War and served his country and then served his community. Our Vietnam vets were rejected by our community when they came back from war and I think it’s now… now is a good time to lower our flags and delay the political agendas that are out there. Stop the disparaging publicity and celebrate the life of our colleague, his service to our country and to this community.
Joanne Cogle, Columbus City Councilor, District 7
He was a man of the people. He would have been tickled pink today to see these kids standing up here, because though he was an advocate for health care, he was also a very strong advocate for cleaning up our streets and cutting down on the crime.
Rep. Teddy Reese, Georgia State Representative HD 140
Pops wasn’t just a legislator. He wasn’t just a nurse, wasn’t just a veteran. Pops was a human being that understood that kindness counts and that you treat people the way you want to be treated and you love people.
Skip Henderson, Columbus Mayor
The council passed a motion initiated by Councilor Joanne Cogle of District 7, to delay any conversation regarding Barnes’ successor for the next 30 days.
Brittany Luther, the executive director of The Bradley Center, addressed the council, giving them a glimpse into the bond Pops shared with local healthcare workers. Luther announced the Psychiatric Graduate Medical Education Learning Lab at The Bradley Center will be named in Pops’ honor.
State House Representative Teddy Reese also addressed the council on behalf of the Legislative Delegation from Columbus. Reese shared a proclamation is being prepared for Barnes’ family.
The Columbus Consolidated Government announced through a press release on Monday that a public memorial and celebration of life service will be held for Barnes on Thursday. For more information, visit the link down below.
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