Binnie Barnes Rai

On December 14, 2020, Binnie passed away in her sleep after a bout with pneumonia brought on by complications from COVID-19.  She was 77 years old.

Binnie is preceded in death by her father, Benjamin Barnes Sr., her mother, Dorothy Adams Barnes nee Dorothy Adams, her half-brother Benjamin Barnes Jr., and her husband Ravinder Rai Sr.  She is survived by her children Anthony Link Jr., Ravinder Rai Jr., and Ramona Rai as well as two grandchildren.

After graduating from the Palmer Memorial Institute in Sedalia, NC in 1961, Binnie attended St. Augustine College (now University) in Raleigh, NC and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1966.  Binnie had her first child (Anthony Link Jr.) in 1969. 

In the early 1970s, Binnie and her mother moved to the Washington, DC area where she started working for the federal government, eventually settling at the Office of Personnel Management where she worked for 23 years.  In 1973, Binnie met Ravinder Rai Sr. in New Carrollton, MD and were married in 1977.  They would go on to have two children (Ravinder Jr. in 1980 and Ramona in 1987) before he passed away in 1989.

After retiring from the federal government in 1995, Binnie found time to pursue her two passions in life: taking care of her children and her interest in the culinary arts.  Binnie was always willing to do whatever it took to help her children have the best in life.  Her loving efforts were rewarded with all three of her children graduating from college, getting married and growing their extended families.

There wasn’t a cookbook or recipe that Binnie was too scared to try.  From mastering the Chicken Curry recipe that was passed to her by Ravinder Sr. to cooking six full course family dinners by herself, Binnie could truly burn on whatever cooking setup was provided to her.

Binnie was a valued member of her family, especially to her children, in-laws, and many others that met her.  She will be dearly missed.

A slideshow of photos may be accessed by clicking HERE.

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