Carol J. Barnett

First Lady Carol J. Barnett

 

First Lady Carol was born in 1959 in Tamms, IL, to Ms. Mattie Grundy.  She is the youngest of four children.  Carol attended both grade and high school at Egyptian Community School District #5.  During her high school years, Carol was very active in student organizations. An academically strong student, she graduated from Egyptian High in 1977. 
 
Under the pastorate of the late Elder Calvin E. Watson, Carol accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior and became a member of Second Baptist Church in Tamms, IL.  She and several of her sisters in Christ were known for their dedication, commitment, and love for God.  During her years at Second Baptist, a place known for the movement of the Holy Ghost, Carol served as president of the choir, Sunday school secretary, and Sunday school teacher.
 
After high school, Carol attended Shawnee Community College and received an Associate of Arts degree in 1980.  She was employed with the U.S. Postal Service for 24 years, most recently serving as Postmaster at the Wolf Lake Post Office in Wolf Lake, Illinois.
 
Just prior to her graduation from Shawnee College, on May 3rd, the former Carol Jean Grundy became the wife of Larry T. Barnett.  To this union, God gave them four wonderful children:  Cala (who has gone on to be with the Lord), Shaya, Larry Jr. (T.J.) and Sean.  Later on, the Lord blessed with another addition to the family, Dontae.
 
First Lady Barnett has been on fire for God for many years.  She stands by her husband, Apostle Barnett, and follows him as he follows Christ. When the vision was given from God to Apostle Barnett for SJPWC, First Lady Carol knew that the job wouldn’t be easy.  Instead of complaining about the amount of work to be done, First Lady joined him in prayer and watched God move a congregation of believers from church to ministry. After returning from their first missionary journey to East Africa in the summer of 2000, it was confirmed in her spirit and she accepted the call that God has for her life.  She has since returned to East Africa with her husband to carry on crusades, ministered at several women’s conferences and looks forward to the direction God is leading not only she and her husband, but the entire SJPWC family.