A Lady & Her Legacy

Nora Raphaela "Raf" Barnes, was born on July 28, 1928, in Santiago, Cuba to the late Robert Benjamin Barnes and Rebecca Taylor Barnes.  Nora grew up in Jamaica later migrating to the United States on October 4, 1959.  She resided in Brooklyn, New York and Bronx, New York later moving to Miami, Florida after retirement and finally residing in Monteverde, Florida…a place she loved dearly.

For over 30 years, she was honored to be a teacher during her time in New York where she touched so many young lives with her direct, caring, and influential presence.

During her free time Nora loved traveling the friendly skies!  Nora was avid traveler and enjoyed making memories and sharing them with family and friends.  She was a great story teller when it came to her travels, making you feel as though you were there in places such as Jerusalem, India, Europe, etc. making memories with her.

Her Christian life was as beautiful as the flowers she planted in her garden and loved so well.  Her influence will forever remain in the lives of those that knew her.  She quietly departed this life on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at her home in Montverde, Florida.  She was preceded in death by her sister, Vera Winnifred Garnett, brother, Vito Landel Barnes, and nephews Francis "Bill" Garnett (Grace) and Tony Garnett (Marcella).  She is survived by her nieces Dorothy Garnett, Cecile Garnett, Marie Garnett, Carol Garnett, Vilma Garnett, Victoria "Vicky" Fambro (Mark), Michele Stafford and nephews Lester Garnett (Claudette) and Christopher Garnett (Karen) along with a host of other family members and friends.

Nora's favorite quote:
"I shall pass this way but once; any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." ― Ralph Waldo Emerson