Eugene Barber

Today, we celebrate the life of Eugene Demesure Barber, Jr. Better known as Gene, dad, or papaw Barber, he was born in Davidson County on November 15, 1923 to Etta May Dorsett and Eugene Demesure Barber, Sr. He remained close to his sisters throughout his life; Hilda Ribelin (deceased), Beula Gullett (deceased), Carol Johnson, Betty Tarleton, Willy Swing, Mitzi Michael, Leila Craven – as well as his brothers Lanny and Jerry (deceased). Dad graduated from Churchland High School in 1941 and joined the Army in February of 1943. He achieved the status of Sergeant Chief of Section and served with Battery A 911 Field Artillery Battalion in the 86th Infantry Division. He received an Honorable Discharge from the army in March of 1946. After his military service, North Carolina Finishing Company became his work place, where he remained for 48 years. Mary John Poole stole his heart on the picket lines at the finishing company and they were married on Valentine’s Day in 1953. Early during his marriage, he joined the Churchland Fire Department and was a volunteer fireman for many years. Mary John and Gene’s family was made complete with the births of their children: Johnny, Jimmy, Betsy, and Gary. Eugene became ‘daddy’ and was our coach in little league baseball and football and our biggest cheerleader in all aspects of our lives. Dad was so proud when Jimmy married Adell Pickett and more so when the first grandchild, John Wesley was born. The family grew when Betsy married Barry Shoaf and then Andrew (Drew) Kyle and Linzy Clair joined the family. Johnny married Sally Klump and brought Monica (Moni) Kaye into the family. Dad became ‘Papaw Barber’, and seemed to love this role. After mom died in 1993, dad later married Patricia Turscott (now deceased) and her daughter, Jane and husband, Scott Nephew along with their children Preston and Jonathan joined the family. Time passed and the grandkids grew. Moni married Randy Franklin and soon Lillie Claire joined the family. Wesley married Joy Reich and MacKenzie Nicole was born. Dad’s progressive disease did not allow him to spend much time with his great grand children – but they will know who their Papaw Barber was through the memories and values instilled within their parents. The family will be at Davidson Funeral Home Saturday, January 26 from 6to 8 p.m. and at the home of Jimmy Barber otherwise. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Greer’s Chapel by the Rev. Lori Ann Bowen. Burial will follow in Oakdale Baptist Church Cemetery in Spencer. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Greer’s Chapel United Methodist Church, 8195 Old Salisbury Road, Lexington, NC 27295 or to a favorite charity.