Deacon Zeberdee Barnes

Zeberdee Barnes was born on June 17, 1937 to the late Thomas Barnes and Dinah Rials-Barnes in Magnolia, Mississippi. He was the oldest son out of thirteen children. Zeb grew up in the St. James Baptist Church in Mississippi. He moved to Chicago in the early 1950’s where he later joined the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church South under the leadership of Rev. Carsie Barnes Jr. He loved his church home where he served as a choir director, he was on the Deacon Board, a Trustee, Pastor anniversary committee, part of the Christian education/new members class and he also sang bass in the senior choir. After relocating to Chicago, Zeb held various temporary jobs until he reached the legal driving age, at which point he started working as a car hiker at a downtown parking garage. This job was when he decided to join the teamster local union 727. He got involved with the workers so they could make a different in the workforce. He served on the Teamster National Black Caucus (TNBC) board Chicago chapter until his health started to fall. He became a Business Agent (BA), so he encourages others to join the union and be a part of making a different. He worked his way to Vice President of his local 727, then to President under John Coli Sr. Zeb retired at the age of 79-years-old, but he continues to attend every Teamsters convention and every TNBC conferences, no matter what state they were going to be in. Zeb was truly a DIE HEART TEAMSTER. Zeb was a sharp dresser from head to toe, and he wanted his wife to be a sharp dresser too. He was known for being a great storyteller, an incredibly good cook, his favorite was red velvet cake and banana pudding. Zeb had a wonderful smile that would brighten up anyone day. Zeb would say Alright when Pastor was preaching, when he wanted your attention, it was Hay, and when he agreed with you it was Yep, and disagreed was Nope. Zeb responded to the names King or Captain and would reply "Yep" whenever addressed by either. Zeb will be deeply missed on the 94th Ada Street block, where he mowed his neighbor’s lawns, cleared their snow, and shared vegetables from his garden with both residents and church members. He even helped church members in getting their own garden started. Zeb met Gwen Barnes in August 1994, and took her to church on New Year's Eve, marking the start of a new chapter. After ten years he realized he had met the Love of his life. Zeb made sure that we were the first to be unity in holy matrimony in August 2004 at the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church South under the new Pastor Carsie E. Barnes III. Zeb departed this life to a new life with his heavenly father at the age of 88 years old. Preceded in death by parents Thomas and Dinah Barnes, children; Clarice Barnes, Zeberdee Jr. and Gwendolyn Ann Barnes, sisters; Clara Simmons, Herley Gulledge, Mildred Burns and Lussettie Henderson, brothers; Ezell and Burnell Barnes. Leaves to cherish his memory: Wife Gwen Barnes, children; Argirtha Thiele (John)(Atlanta, GA), Andre Barnes (Alexandra), bonus children; Donnell Walker Jr., Shonita Walker and Steven Barnes, brothers; McTerry Barnes (Laverne)(Las Vegas), Bobby Barnes (Maria) and Thomas Barnes (Sharon), sisters; Hattie Brown (Arizona), Delois Barnes (Texas) and Debra Wilcher (Raymond)(Georgia), sisters-in-law; Wilberteen Jackson and Ruth Thomas, twelve grandchildren, four bonus grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends Floyd Hughe, Rev. Jesse Lee, Teamsters Local 727, Teamsters National Black Caucus and the Antioch M.B. Church South family.

Deacon Zeberdee Barnes

June 17, 1937 - October 5, 2025