Harry Beck “B.B.” Barnes, 73, of Greenville, MS, passed away on July 17, 2026, at Delta Health System – The Medical Center. His loving wife, Rosie, provided comfort at his bedside in his final moments. He lived a full and meaningful life marked by faith, devotion to family, and finding joy in the presence of his friends. Services to honor his life will be on Friday, July 24, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m., followed by a funeral mass at 11:00. Arrangements are under the direction of Boone Funeral Home in Greenville.
B.B. was born on April 27, 1953, in Greenville, MS, to Harry Dean Barnes and Lurline Beck Barnes. He was raised in Greenville, where from an early age he was surrounded by family and an ever-growing host of friends, many of whom remained by his side throughout his life. Some of these friends, as youngsters, took to calling Harry “Be Bop,” a nickname his mother actively discouraged, until the two sides found compromise in the less offensive “B.B.”, which stuck with him for the rest of his life.
B.B. attended St. Joseph School in Greenville, where he developed into an exceptional football player, and was voted Class Favorite by his peers. Upon graduation, he attended Mississippi Delta Community College.
After graduation from MDCC, B.B. partnered with his brother-in-law and friend Pete Mauceli, in opening Pete and B.B.’s Kwik Stop, a convenience store and hub of great cultural, social, and political significance for the city of Greenville. The two men spent nearly four decades operating the store. After selling it, B.B. spent years working at Lowe’s alongside several friends. Upon retiring full-time, he spent his days volunteering at the St. Vincent de Paul Society in service of the underprivileged, an undertaking he loved dearly.
Throughout his life, B.B. found joy in reading novels, golfing, the Left Field Lounge, a rogue’s gallery of house cats, the St. Louis Cardinals, playing bocce, making others laugh, a multitude of cherished friends, his loving wife and his three children.
He is survived by his wife of 32 years Rosie Barnes; his daughter Mary Claire Meeker and her husband Jimmy; his daughter Scarlett Cook and her husband Chris; his son Beck Barnes and his wife Sarah; three granddaughters Stella Grace Cook, Anna Claire Cook, and Margaret Barnes; two nephews Ian Thompson and his wife Amanda, and Eric Thompson; his cousin, Lurline Collier McCorkle and her husband Ricky; and a host of friends he loved as family throughout his life.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Lurline Beck Barnes, and his father, Harry Barnes; and his siblings, Camille Thompson, Michael Barnes, and Robert Barnes.
Though his earthly journey has ended, the love B.B. gave to his family and to the world, and the joy and laughter he inspired in others, will remain in the hearts of those who loved him. May the Lord comfort all who mourn his passing and grant the blessing of peace to those who remember him in their hearts.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, P.O. Box 1523, Greenville, MS, 38702; or to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
B.B.’s family wishes to express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Maroun Hayek and his staff for the excellent care and kindness they provided during his illness. We also express our endearing gratitude to the staff at Delta Health System – The Medical Center for the extraordinary care they provided.