Early Tuesday morning, Yazoo City was shaken by grief when 35-year-old Kenlanda Burns, a devoted mother and longtime cafeteria worker with the Yazoo City Municipal School District, was found shot to death at Willow Wood Apartments on Grady Avenue. The Yazoo County Coroner, Ricky Shivers, pronounced her dead on the scene just after 6:30 a.m., following a response by Pafford medics.
Investigators quickly located the prime suspect: her estranged partner and father of her children, 39-year-old Erwin Barnes. Authorities say Barnes had a history of domestic violence, including reports that he pistol-whipped Ms. Burns only weeks before her death.
A manhunt ensued throughout the day. According to Sheriff Jeremy McCoy and local law enforcement, Barnes was found not far from U.S. Highway 49 at a rest stop in Pocahontas during the afternoon. As officers moved in, they say Barnes was preparing to surrender when he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Burns leaves behind three children, a population of students, colleagues, and community members who remember her not only for her work but for her warmth. Co-workers say she was a friendly, familiar face in school hallways and cafeteria lines, always greeting students with kindness.
Her cousin, SirJohnathan Rucker, shared messages she had sent just before her death—words of love, faith, and care. “She reached out and just said, ‘I love you very much,’” Rucker said, the weight of those final moments hitting everyone close to her especially hard.
The Yazoo City Municipal School District released a public statement honoring her legacy: “Ms. Burns played an important role in our school community, and her presence will be greatly missed.” They also extended heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and the many students whose lives she touched.
This tragedy has reignited conversations among community members about the urgency of addressing domestic violence proactively. “If he had been picked up before now, this would never have happened,” said one relative of Barnes. Calls for better intervention systems, earlier warning sign recognition, and stronger support networks are growing louder as people grapple with the loss of someone they say shone small kindnesses every day.