MARCH 21, 1927 – JULY 18, 2026
In the Care of Garrison Funeral Home
Our “Sissy”, Opaline Barnhart, went to be with her heavenly family on July 18, 2026. She was 99 years young, a spring baby born on March 21, 1927 to Annie Lee and Delphia Eugene Carroll of Garrison. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at Garrison Funeral Home with Nick Lloyd officiating. Interment will follow at Cold Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 10:00 AM.
Sissy lived a long and prosperous life in and around Garrison and Nacogdoches and was loved by all who knew her. She retired from Moore Business Forms of Nacogdoches and spent her retirement years loving her pets, visiting family and friends, tending flowers and volunteering for the Grandparents Volunteer Program with Nacogdoches ISD. She lived her final years with her nephew Roger Carroll in Brazoria, Texas.
Because she never had any biological children, Opaline’s nieces and nephews became her “children”. She loved them fiercely and they loved her right back. She became their “other mother”, confidante and biggest supporter. She brought so much joy and spice into their lives with everything she shared with them. Her niece Felecia has said that Sissy loved to work puzzles, go shopping and to garage sales and bake all kinds of delicious pies, although her chocolate was a favorite of many! She loved hanging out with her family and was often the life of the party due to her quick wit and sassy demeanor. When they were together, they were likely playing 42 and you would inevitably hear her and her sister Martha arguing over something. She and Martha were like two little warriors, arguing like siblings but never wanted to be apart for very long. Sissy had two things, besides her family, that brought her great joy and that was her dog Rascal and dancing! She was the dancing queen of the VFW and would spend many Saturday nights dancing up a storm, which kept her young and spry!
Opaline is survived by her loving nieces and nephews, Roger Carroll & wife Karen, Denny Young & husband Doug, Dale Garrett, Lennie Sawyer & husband Buz, Pam Downs & husband Boyce, Felecia Lloyd & husband George, Paul Carroll & wife Amy and Carrie Faulkner & husband David; an awesome group of great and great-great nieces and nephews, and her beloved dog Rascal.
She is preceded in death by her two husbands, L.V. Cunningham and Delmar Barnhart; her parents, and her siblings, Joe, John C and Martha.
Special thanks are given to Felecia Loyd who gave Sissy support while she lived in Nacogdoches and Roger Carroll who opened his home to her in her final years. The family would also like to thank Oak Village Healthcare and Hospice of Lake Jackson for the outstanding care of Sissy after her hip surgery and until her passing.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Opaline (Carroll) Barnhart, please visit Garrison Funeral Home’s floral store.