My mother-in-law Denise is a very busy lady who spends most of her time taking care of her family and friends. Most women have a strained relationship with their mother-in-laws, but she is one of most selfless people I know. She spends most of her time taking care of her family, friends and neighborhood kids.

When she does have a free moment, she delights in the simple things -- a Sunday afternoon in her garden, a Saturday morning drive to the flea market to look for vintage treasures and a holiday spent with her children, granddaughters and soon-to-arrive grandson (!). She is an old soul, and many of her lifelong interests were formed during days and weekends spent with her beloved grandparents. Many of her family photos burned in a house fire years ago, so the photos she still has are very precious to her. Lately I have been working to digitize and create a photo book of her family photos.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Clovis and Arletta Geno, Denise's parents.

Her adorable grandparents, James and Pearl Barnes.

Denise (bottom right) and most of her siblings.

Denise's grandmother, Mommie Barnes (third for left), and her sisters (Sarah Gann, Myrtle Thorton, Pearl Barnes and Mary Gann).

Denise's sweet sister Glenda who was killed in a car accident a few weeks before Jonathan was born.

Denise (right) with her cousin Susan and sister Sandi.

In the third installment of the family stories series, we are sharing memories of Jonathan's maternal great-grandparents, James and Pearl Barnes. The story is told from the perspective of Jonathan's sister, Julie.

James Arther Barnes was born on April 1, 1904 and died on May 29, 1995. Pearl Fortner Barnes was born on August 22, 1906 and died on May 10, 2000. They were married for 77 years. Their love for each other and their love for their family and God made them the happiest two people I have ever known.

Each Sunday, my family would visit Mommie and Daddy Barnes in Blackland. They lived in a two-story house owned by Vester Coats. They were sharecroppers who lived and worked someone else's land for most of their lives, but they were always happy.

When I was seven, Mommie and Daddy Barnes bought an FHA home in Jumpertown, Mississippi. This was the first home they had ever owned. The joy and happiness on the faces of my great-grandparents was indescribable. They finally had a home of their own. I can remember going to their house and having Sunday dinner with all of the family. There was always a lot of family there, because my mother has four sisters and four brothers.

My great-grandparents had lived in the little house in Jumpertown for several years when Daddy Barnes passed away in 1995. Mommie Barnes moved into a nursing home in Corinth, Mississippi a few years later. I remember her telling me that she just wanted to see her little house once more time before she died. She was so proud of it and so happy the day they moved in. I'm glad my great-grandparents were able to have a home of their very own, even if it was only for a short time. It brought so much happiness and joy to their lives.

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Denise's family photos

Family Stories: James and Pearl Barnes