Today, my family said our formal goodbyes to the matriarch of our family, Mother Inez "Madea" Peterson Green. The majority of the service was beautiful; however, the tone and attitude prior to the service from Ms. Lorena Barnum Sabbs was inappropriate and unnecessarily rude for grieving grandchildren. My sister, brother, his fiancée, and I arrived before the rest of the family and sat four rows back from the front. An usher told us that we needed to move all the way to the right end of the pew, which was fine, and we complied. Suddenly, Ms. Barnum Sabbs approached us and snapped at us that she understood we were family but that we needed to move back and leave the first 8 rows for the children and their spouses. My siblings and I were confused because the number of aunts and uncles we have, even with their spouses, did not account for 8 rows. When I told her that we were grandchildren, she looked at me and snapped (again), "And how big is your family?! There are a hundred of y'all!" To keep peace, I didn't argue back or state how hurtful her response had been. I held up my hand and said, "Ms. Sabbs, I understand what you're saying," and we moved as asked. Now. This is my grandmother. This was a day to honor her. The way Ms. Barnum Sabbs responded to us--family members who are already grieving--was inappropriate and wrong. If there was specific seating arrangements, clear instructions should have been given prior to entering the sanctuary, not later by embarrassing and snapping at family members who are unaware and already seated. When the family entered, not only were 8 rows not needed for my grandmother's children and their spouses, but my siblings and I would have been fine where we were originally seated because that is where the grandchildren ended up sitting. I will say that the rest of the Barnum staff were professional and honoring of our family. For that, thank you.

Barnum Funeral Home and there staff go above and beyond to give you excellent servic. The Streeter family always have and always will be supporters of the Barnum family.

Gentlemen named Terry masters I came to my house and even in a Pandemic Consoled me like he was my best friend and then Handled my mother with nothing but the very best respect. Thank GOD for people like him in our darkest hours.