(KNSI) – To women fleeing domestic violence in the St. Cloud area, Maxine Barnett was already a guardian angel. After dying at age 83 on July 5th, it has become official.
Barnett grew up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, but made her mark here in St. Cloud. After graduating from Marquette University and becoming a teacher, Barnett switched to social work in 1977. What she learned helped her start the earliest iteration of Anna Marie’s Alliance.
Barnett turned heads by innovating at her shelter in ways that had never been done before, which garnered her a national profile. She became an advocate for the Violence Against Women Act alongside the former United States Senator Paul Wellstone.
Then called Woman House, Barnett’s shelter was the first facility in the country to give battered women cell phones so they could gain some independence from a toxic relationship. She also pioneered initiatives that kept a public health nurse on site at the center. Another first for Woman House was the use of child psychiatrists and nurse practitioners to help kids deal with trauma from witnessing domestic violence.
Woman House became Anna Marie’s Alliance in 2000, and Barnett continued to work there until 2013. Upon her retirement, Mayor Dave Kleis announced February 1st of that year as Maxine Barnett Day and gave her a key to the city.
Anna Marie’s Alliance writes on Facebook, “Maxine’s legacy lives on in every life touched by our mission. We are forever grateful for her impact.” She leaves behind two children and four grandchildren.
Visitation is scheduled for Sunday, July 13th, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Williams Dingmann Funeral Home. The funeral will be the next day at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul Catholic Church in St. Cloud.
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