Barnes, Charles

Charles Barnes, a campus minister in Alabama for nearly 40 years, died Aug. 17 in Tuscaloosa. He was 90.

In 1940, Barnes became the first full-time Baptist campus minister at the University of Alabama and served there until 1974. He then served in the same position at Livingston University until 1979.

“Charlie Barnes was truly a campus ministry legend in Alabama and in the Southern Baptist Convention. His faithfulness to student ministry and his love for college students has made an eternal impact on the lives of thousands,” said Mike Nuss, State Baptist Board of Missions director of collegiate and student ministries.

“Charlie literally pioneered ministry to college students in our state,” Nuss added.

Nuss said Barnes was the longest-serving campus minister in Alabama and one of the longest-serving in the Southern Baptist Convention.

Barnes received his undergraduate education at Howard College (now Samford University) and completed his graduate and doctoral work at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

Survivors include his wife, Flora, and two sons.