Essie

About the Book

I decided to write the story of my Mother's life not so much for my Sister's and Brother because they all know all about her life. I wanted her Grand, Great Grand, Great Great Grands and future generations to know her. I want them to know what a remarkable Woman she was, to know her trials and tribulation, her hardship, her pain, her troubles, her triumphs, her struggles, her accomplishments despite never getting a formal education. She never went to High School and yet she achieved so much in her life time.

The frustration she felt being moved from Family to Family and never Knowing her Parents.

About the Author

Harold Levon Barnes was born on November 15th,1935 in Winston Salem NC. He is the 2nd Son of Essie and Joseph Barnes.He attended Kimberley Park Elementary School and Atkins High School Graduating in 1953. He enlisted along with his Older Brother Joseph in August, 1953 and was assigned to Fort Jackson in Columbia SC for basic training. He was then Assigned to the 595th Field Artillery Division at Fort Sill Okla. In 1955 he was assigned to the 750th Field Artillery Division in Ansbach Germany. Upon discharged he moved to Philadelphia Pa. In May of 1962 he joined the Philadelphia Police Department and was assigned to the 17th Police District as a patrol officer. In 1964 he was transferred to the Accident Investigation Division of the Police Department.In 1967 he was transferred to the Police Athletic League (PAL) where he worked with inner City Youth organizing and Coaching and refereeing Basketball,Baseball,Softball,track and Field and Tennis. On his 23rd year with the Department he retired in 1984 and worked in Atlantic City NJ in the Security Dept. at Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino for five years. He the resigned in 1989 and moved from Pleasantville NJ back to Philadelphia. That same year in August he was hired at Beaver College (now Arcadia University) located in Glenside Pa. He Was shift Supervisor in thier Public Safety Dept. briefly serving as interim Director. After 17 years he retired in February of 2006 moving back to his home town of Winston Salem where he now resides.