A large crowd turned out Monday night for the naming of the Council Chambers in the Archer Lodge Town Hall. In a unanimous vote, the board adopted a resolution naming the chambers in honor of Jeffrey (Jeff) D. Barnes, a former member of the town council.
Mr. Barnes was present for the recognition along with the unveiling of a plaque outside the council chambers main entry door by Mayor Michael Gordon. “Jeff and I grew up together in Archer Lodge,” Mayor Gordon said. “Our fathers grew up together here, and so we shared a lot of life experiences. He has always been forward thinking and concerned about the future of Archer Lodge spending countless hours of service to the betterment of our community. He has really been a good friend and a mentor for all our lives.”
“I cannot think of a more deserving person to name the council chambers for,” Councilman Matt Mulhollen stated. “He is truly a man among men and I’m proud to call you a friend.”
Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell and retired Clerk of Court Will Crocker were on hand for the standing room only event.
Barnes, a life-long resident of Archer Lodge, played on the grounds of the community center as a child. As an adult he was an integral part of what is standing on the same site today, the Archer Lodge Community Center. An avid hunter and fisherman, he joined the towns fire department in 1972 and served as fire chief from 1987 to 2000.
A past president of the Johnston County Fireman’s Association and past president of the Johnston County Fire Chief’s Association, Barnes was a charter member of the first Archer Lodge Town Council and member of the first elected council serving from 2009 to 2014. He also led the establishment of the Archer Lodge Water District.
He worked for 34 years in commercial construction at Bobbitt Design Build in Raleigh. The last building project he assisted with was the Archer Lodge Town Hall.
Barnes has been married for 34 years to his wife, Lisa Barnes. They have two adult sons, Hunter and Tucker who are both married.
