Mary Anne Strickland Barnes Wahl

Mary Anne Strickland Barnes Wahl, known by her friends as “Anne,” was born on August 3, 1948, in Douglas, Georgia. She was the daughter of Glenn Max Strickland and Mary Hester Strickland and had two sisters and three brothers. Anne was known in childhood for her loving spirit and her crafty abilities. She excelled in sewing and cooking, especially her pound cakes, which were proudly praised by her mother. Even in those early years, Anne longed to be a wife and a mother, and she began a journey that would one day fulfill that childhood dream. Anne graduated from Thomas County Central High School in 1966. That same year, on July 3, 1966, she married Frank Newberry Barnes. Together, they built a home in Merrillville, a community within Thomas County, near Frank’s mother, where they raised their four children. Anne fully stepped into her calling as a devoted wife and mother. She loved and cared for each of her children with a love that could only come from the Lord. Her love was unconditional, and steadfast. She met every need and every task with quiet strength and dignity, trusting that no matter what life brought, the Lord would carry her through. After Mr. Barnes’ passing, Anne continued to walk in faith and perseverance through a season of deep loss. In time, the Lord brought companionship back into her life, and on August 30, 2001, she married Ernest Buddy F. Wahl Jr.. Together, they shared a life marked by love, faith, and enduring commitment. Anne was a devoted and faithful wife not only in times of joy, but also in times of hardship. She stood faithfully beside both of her husbands as they faced their battles with cancer, offering them strength, comfort, and unwavering love. Through each trial, Anne remained steadfast in her trust in the Lord, reflecting a quiet courage and grace that deeply impacted all who witnessed her life. Anne was a dedicated poultry farmer, operating Merrillville Poultry Farm before her retirement. She was known for her hard work. Anne was a longtime and faithful member of Merrillville Baptist Church, where her life reflected her deep love for the Lord and her commitment to serving others. Proverbs 31 tells us of “the wife of noble character,” and that entire passage could be used to describe Anne. She was a living testimony that a woman of her character is “worth far more than rubies” (v. 10). Everyone who encountered Anne was blessed by her presence. Her home was always open to those who needed to laugh, to cry, to talk, or simply to rest. No matter how busy life became, she was never too busy for her family. She was their cornerstone. Though our hearts feel the weight of her absence, we rejoice in the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Anne’s faith was not only spoken, but lived, and we take comfort in knowing she is now at peace in the presence of her Savior. She is reunited with those who went before her, made whole, and free from suffering and pain. Her life was a testimony of God’s sustaining grace, and her hope was anchored in the Lord she trusted in every season. While we will miss her deeply, we do not grieve as those without hope, for we know that because of Christ, this separation is not forever, and until we meet again, her love, her faith, and her example will continue to guide those she leaves behind.  Anne is survived by her children, Melissa Clanton and husband Michael, Rachel Brinson, and Laura Christie and husband Walker, and daughter in law Pamela Barnes; her grandchildren, Leah Linderman and husband Mark, Avery Barnes, Chad Clanton and wife Mary Jo, Taylor Brinson, Franki Barnes, Codee Brinson, Jenna Clanton, Jackson Christie, and Olivia Christie; and her great-grandchildren, Addison Chastain, CJ Myers, Beverly Clanton and Riley Jayne. She is also survived by her sister, Carol S. West; and her brothers, Glenn M. Strickland, Jr. and wife Teresa, Timothy S. Strickland and wife Marli, and Mark A. Strickland, and sister in law Patricia Brookshire and friend Charle Scheidt, along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family members who will continue to cherish her memory. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Frank Newberry Barnes and Ernest Buddy F. Wahl Jr.; her son, Frank A. Barnes; her sister, Linda Strickland Rollins; her parents, Glenn Max Strickland and Mary Hester  Strickland; and her mother in law Uvalda “Pete” Fallin Barnes. Funeral services will be held at 11:00AM on Wednesday May 13, 2026 at Merrillville Baptist Church with Pastor Mike Hanscom officiating. Private burial will be at Enon Baptist Church Cemetery.