By Rebecca Billman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Mr. Barnes

Tommie Barnes, one of the founders of Barnes Barber Shop in Evanston 44 years ago, died of kidney failure Monday in Chicago. The Hyde Park resident was 71.

Barnes Barber Shop - one of the oldest businesses in Evanston's Five Points area, where Gilbert and Hewett avenues meet Woodburn Avenue and Montgomery Road - was a joint partnership between Mr. Barnes and his brother, Monroe. They opened the shop in 1957 after Mr. Barnes finished barber school.

He attended classes during the day while working for Hostess Bakery at night.

Their business was an asset to the community, said Mr. Barnes' daughter, Tommie Barnes-Goodgames of Marietta, Ga. "They hired children to keep them off the street," his daughter said.

The brothers also allowed shoeshine boys to set up shop in their store, sponsored Little League teams and gave many young barbers and stylists their first job, she said.

"Daddy was well-liked in the community," said another daughter, Mary Barnes-Sutton of Hyde Park. "He gave a lot back. He loved children and the people loved him. He would help anyone."

The barbershop became a gathering place for its neighbors, where people would socialize and play checkers. In fact, Mr. Barnes was known to many as "Mr. Checkers."

When their brother, Harry, graduated from barber school, he joined Tommie and Monroe in the business.

They moved the shop a few doors down from its original location on Woodburn Avenue in 1969 and took on more partners, brothers Horace and Edd Jr. and a brother-in-law, Dan Reese.

Mr. Barnes was semi-retired, but still owned the store and visited it as many as three days a week, his daughter said.

It is managed by Charles English, the son-in-law of Monroe, who died in 1991.

Mr. Barnes was born in 1931 in Sardis, Ala., to Edd and Lizzette Barnes. He graduated from Shiloh High School there and moved to Cincinnati in 1952.

He wed Eunice B. Reese the following year and soon was one of the owners of the barbershop.

In addition to his daughters, Mary and Tommie, survivors include his wife; two other daughters, Brenda Barnes-Beatty of Kennedy Heights and Kamerra Barnes-Harris of Oakley; a son, Tommie Barnes Jr. of Hyde Park; seven brothers, Walter of Mount Healthy, James of North College Hill , Horace of Amelia, Edd of New Richmond, Harry of Madisonville, Jesse of Woodlawn, and Archie of Mount Healthy; five sisters, Etta Hatcher and Iola Reese, both of North College Hill, Earnestine Johnson of Bond Hill, Ann Hill of East Chicago and Lizzette Barnes of Woodlawn; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation is 10 a.m. until noon today followed by the service at Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church, 2804 Alms Place, Walnut Hills. Interment is at Spring Grove Cemetery.

E-mail rbillman@enquirer.com