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Voisin's View: Saying good-bye to Ann Barnes
By Ailene Voisin - avoisin@sacbee.com
Last Updated 12:11 pm PST Wednesday, December 5, 2007
It's still hard to believe that Ann Barnes - the mother of former Del Campo High School star and current Golden State Warriors swingman Matt Barnes - passed away last Tuesday at the age of 50.
According to Matt, by the time his mother was diagnosed with cancer in early October, the disease had spread throughout her internal organs. She spent most of her final days in the hospital, though she was able to attend the Warriors' home-opener in a wheelchair.
Because she was a converted Warriors fan - Matt no longer playing for the locals over at Arco - one of his Golden State jerseys was attached to the inside of the casket for Tuesday's memorial service in Fair Oaks.
Ann Barnes, who taught special needs children at an elementary school before starting a second career two years ago in a dental office, clearly left a powerful impression. The overflow crowd at the "celebration of life" included all of the Warriors players and coaches, Matt's former UCLA coach Steve Lavin, the mother of his former Bruin teammate Earl Watson, Kevin Martin and other members of the Kings' organization, along with rows packed with friends and acquaintances.
Matt briefly addressed the mourners, and somehow, managed to maintain his composure. A video presentation played in the background throughout the ceremony, projecting the image of a warm, tight-knit family, consisting of a loving couple (Ann and Henry) and their three children, Matt, Danielle and Jason.
As a personal aside, I will always be grateful to Ann Barnes for inviting myself and a Bee photographer into her home for a Warriors-Mavericks playoff game last May. She was everything Matt said she was: warm, gracious, engaging, and very, very funny.
What a terrible loss both for the Barnes family and the Sacramento community. Condolences to all those who know and loved her.
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