Joy Barnes, second from left, receives congratulations for her retirement at Madison Elementary School from Principal Melissa Mims, from left, Superintendent Dr. Dee Fowler and Coordinator of Elementary Instruction Judy Warmath. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Joy Barnes won’t get bored, now that she has retired as counselor at Madison Elementary School.

“If I get bored, I’ll volunteer or get a part-time job,” Barnes said.

Barnes first worked as an aide with at-risk students in math and reading at Lincoln Elementary School and in Carrollton, Ala. “I stopped working to stay home with my children when they were preschool age,” she said.

Then, Barnes earned a master’s degree in counseling. She worked one year at Madison and Monrovia elementary schools. The next year, she started working full time at Madison elementary and worked there until retirement.

Barnes’ favorite teacher was Mrs. Burgess, her fourth-grade teacher at Chapman Elementary School in Huntsville. “She was one of the kindest and most caring people I’ve ever known. I remember her taking the class to her farm. We didn’t really go on field trips in those days,” Barnes said.

Barnes especially enjoyed working with youngsters who “were a little different, didn’t conform to the norm or fit in with classmates. It’s very rewarding to see these students grow and become successful in life. I love to hear reports about their accomplishments in middle and high school and see former students around Madison.”

Barnes will miss her students and “work family. I’ve made lasting friendships and will miss the daily interactions. Whenever someone needs a helping hand or just someone to listen, someone is always there to step up and do whatever they can,” she said.

Currently a Madison resident, Barnes has lived in Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Cookville, Tenn. and around Boston. Her husband William works for Echostar.

Their children attended Madison City Schools. Sons Matt and Chris live in Nashville. Daughter Natalie lives in Madison and daughter, Aliyah, a rising second-grader at Madison Elementary.

During retirement, Joy Barnes will use spare time for home projects, drawing, painting and traveling to visit relatives and places she has never seen. “I’ll enjoy going out to lunch whenever I want,” she said.