Matilda was born on March 3, 1913 to James Bullock Yates and Una Honea Yates of Sontag, Mississippi.
Matilda was a member of a Baptist Church when she received the gift of the Holy Ghost. at home, in 1931, at the age of eighteen. It was not until 1939, however, that she was baptized in the Name of Jesus.
In October 1931 she married Otho Barnett of Magee, Mississippi. They had three sons. Billy, Bobby and Jerry.
Sister Barnett began her preaching ministry about 1940. She assisted in several churches, Monticello, Georgetown, Springhill near Wesson, and Columbia. Her pastoral duties included pastoring at Pine Grove or as it was known then, The Barn. She also pastored at Oak Grove, Jayess, Mississippi in 1949 but left after a short time. In the 1950’s she pastored a little wooded church out in the country from Georgetown. She returned to Oak Grove Pentecostal Church in 1978 and pastored until she was involved in an auto accident and which ended her ministry in 1991.
Her husband, Otho was taken home to be with Jesus on February 17, 1991. We Salute Sister Matilda J. Barnett, for her many atyears of faithfully laboring for the Kingdom of God. Her earthly journey ended January 18, 1999. Article from, Mississippi Torch July 1991, 6