NATCHEZ &045;&045; Longtime Natchez resident and nationally renowned horticulturist Betty Barnes died Wednesday at her home. She was 99.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. on Saturday at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Vidalia, La.

Friends recalled her generosity, gentleness and optimism. &uot;She had such a zest for life,&uot; said Natchez attorney John Ball, a longtime friend of the Barnes family and one who in recent years worked alongside Mrs. Barnes in establishing The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. &uot;The church was very important to her.&uot;

Barnes was active in St. John’s Episcopal Church in Camden, Ark., where she lived prior to moving to Natchez in 1976 to be near her son, Dr. Robert Barnes, and his wife, Bettina, and their family.

In Arkansas, she was the first woman in the state to hold the office of senior warden. She continued her active role in the church in Natchez at Trinity Episcopal until becoming involved in Good Shepherd.

Her love for gardening spilled over into most of her friendships and her church life, as well. At Good Shepherd, she raised funds to establish a garden that won both a state and a national award, said friend Faye Lehmann.

&uot;She was always so supportive of everything and wanted to participate in everything,&uot; Lehmann said. &uot;And she inspired everyone to do their best.&uot;

Barnes served as president and in other leadership positions in many garden clubs and societies. She co-authored handbooks for the National Council of Garden Clubs, the National Daffodil Society and the National Daylily Society.

Numerous varieties of flowers, including daylilies, roses and daffodils have been named after her to honor her contributions to gardening and flower show judging.

Janice Priester Byrne, a longtime friend of Barnes, traveled with her to judge flower shows and attend meetings throughout a four-state area for many years.

&uot;She was the most delightful traveling companion. Her intense love of gardening not only was encyclopedic but it also was practical and filled with humor,&uot; Byrne said. &uot;The gardening world indeed has lost one of its greatest treasures.&uot;

Born Victoria Elizabeth Mullens, she married Major Robert Henry Barnes, a World War II hero who died in a plane crash while on military duty in New Guinea during the war.

Her caregiver for many years, Bettye Lucas, said she learned many life lessons from Barnes. &uot;She always greeted you with a smile. I’ll remember that smile. On my worst days, she would know; she would say, ‘Bettye, be joyful.’&uot;

Barnes taught her about strength, endurance and generosity, Lucas said. &uot;She always had a kind word. She was the first one to step up and help someone. She taught me how to be more giving.&uot;

A world without Barnes will be a different world, Ball said. &uot;We’ll go on about our daily lives. The sun will still come up every day. But things won’t be the same without her.&uot;

Visitation with the family will be

9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Good Shepherd in Vidalia.