PRESS RELEASE – Florida Civil Rights Museum, Inc.℠ mourns the loss of civil rights icon Calvin E. Barnes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 1, 2025

MEDIA CONTACT:
Delaitre J. Hollinger | Jacqueline Y. Perkins
[email protected]
(850) 296-5590 | (850) 294-3768
floridacivilrightsmuseum.org

Calvin E. Barnes (November 30, 1925 – March 29, 2025), was a trailblazing civil rights leader, whose impact on North and South Florida as an NAACP official cannot be overstated. In 1952, he was one of 11 men, and the only African-American selected by the U.S. Naval Station’s Industrial Relations Department to be trained as a carpenter for public works. On July 5, 1980, he married legendary historian and founding Executive Director Emeritus of the John G. Riley Museum, Althemese Pemberton Barnes, who herself served as Secretary for the Florida Conference of NAACP Branches. They traveled extensively throughout Florida in the 1980s, when Mr. Barnes ascended to the State Field Director’s post for the Florida NAACP. In this position, he oversaw areas from Taylor to Escambia County. He traveled to these communities, establishing and re-organizing NAACP branches and helping to resolve discriminatory complaints. He traveled frequently to NAACP state, regional and national meetings as a Youth ACT-SO chaperone, and as a cabinet (executive committee) member under Tallahassee Branch NAACP Presidents Allen Stucks, Dr. Charles L. Evans, Anita L. Davis and Dr. Anthony Viegbesie.

A World War II Veteran and President of the Navy Civilian Work Force organization at Boca Chica Navy Base in Key West, Mr. Barnes was also President of the Key West Branch NAACP and served on the Executive Board throughout the 1970s. He led the organization in protesting the lack of attention to adequate maintenance that was paid to the only Key West governmental housing project for Blacks. He filed a complaint with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, the federal housing oversight agency. This successful action resulted in an appropriation of $3 million dollars that was used to make repairs and upgrade the housing project. Numerous complaints of discrimination regarding employment were also resolved during his tenure as President. Additionally, the highest number of new NAACP memberships and renewals was achieved. Mr. Barnes was also a Worshipful Master of the Key West Masonic Lodge and treasurer of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Key West.

Upon moving to Tallahassee in 1981, Mr. Barnes remained active in the local and state organization. During this time, the Tallahassee Branch NAACP needed an individual who could boost the number of memberships in the association. Mr. Barnes took on the role of Membership Chairman. During his tenure, the Tallahassee NAACP received the highest in state, regional and national awards for new, renewed and Life Memberships. Isazetta Spikes, Director of the National Membership Department, sent written confirmation of this to the Florida NAACP leadership and frequently applauded Barnes’s accomplishments.

In 1990, Mr. Barnes was a plaintiff in the successful federal lawsuit DeGrandy v. Wetherell; a Federal Voting Rights Action, which involved a challenge to Florida’s reapportionment plan for state Senate and House districts (SJR-2G). The suit argued that the plan unlawfully diluted the voting strength of Hispanics and Blacks in Dade County. The suit also alleged that congressional districts violated the Equal Protection Clause and the Voting Rights Act. This challenge to the Florida Legislature’s redistricting plan resulted in the creation of several African-American majority districts in Florida’s congressional delegation.

The Florida Civil Rights Museum, Inc.℠, its officers and board of directors extends our sincerest condolences to his wife of 44 years, Mrs. Althemese Pemberton Barnes, daughter Denise Powell, and extended family and friends.