Barrett, Anna Lee

March 09, 1920 - November 07, 2009

On Saturday, November 7, 2009 our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and school teacher, Anna (Anne) Lee Browning Barrett of Beckley, passed away at the Bowers Hospice House. Born March 9, 1920 at Meador, Mingo County, she was the eldest of four daughters born to Kenna Z. and Willa Jane Hatfield Browning, who preceded her in death. Her heritage and ancestry were rich with legendary relatives who included her great great grandfather, Valentine “Wall” Hatfield, brother of Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield and her great grandfather, Floyd Hatfield who owned the infamous pig that started the historic Hatfield/McCoy feud. Mrs. Barrett’s husband, Quentin Barrett, and daughter, Betty Ann preceded her in death. Those left to cherish her memory are son, Robert Kenneth Barrett and his wife, Linda of Grand Junction, Colorado, and daughter, Elizabeth Browning Barrett and her fiancé, James O. Meadows Sr., of Beckley; three beloved grandchildren, Candace Brette Wills of Naperville, IL, Andrew Quentin Barrett ( Dana) of Hong Kong and Colby Emerson Barrett ( Leslie) of Grand Junction; she has three sisters, Zelta Conley of Ravenswood, June Davis of St. Albans and Faye B. Ray of Charleston; she was blessed with great grandchildren, Scarlett, Hunter, and Lachlan; several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great great nephews. Mrs. Barrett grew up in North Matewan, and graduated from Magnolia High School in 1936. She attended Berea College, graduated from Concord College, and earned a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from West Virginia University. She earned another 45 hours beyond her M.A. degree. She taught school for 37 years in Raleigh County at Edwight Grade School and Mount View Elementary and Junior High Schools, retiring in 1981. She enjoyed being a homemaker, sewing, art, music, interior decorating and was a fan of belly dancing. She loved her grandchildren and especially, her grandchildren’s summer visits at the family farm in Virginia. A Service of Remembrance will be held on Tuesday, November 10th at 1:00 pm in the Melton Mortuary Chapel with the David Pettry CLP, of the Dry Creek Presbyterian Church officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. until the hour of the service. In tribute to Anna Lee Barrett’s life and long work with youth, the Barrett family is assisting Bowers Hospice House in creating the Barrett Children Play Room for children visiting their facility. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Bowers Hospice House, PO Box 1472, Beckley, WV 25802.