Obituary of Carlene McNeal Barbee

Carlene McNeal Barbee, 85, left this life to meet God Thursday, 8/1/13 at Friends Homes at Guilford. A celebration of her life will be held at Lambeth-Troxler Chapel (300 W. Wendover Ave; Greensboro, NC 27408) on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 at 11:00 AM, with burial immediately after the service at Lakeview Memorial Park. Carlene was born in Greensboro on December 15, 1927 to the late R. Jerome and Rosa Walters McNeal. She was married to the late Wendell Barbee. Carlene graduated from Rankin High School and began her first career in communications with Southern Bell. She advanced to management before retirement with 39 years of service. She completed a second career as an administrative assistant with Carlyle Corporation with 15 years of service. Carlene loved people and was a true friend to many. She was feisty, fun-loving, caring, thoughtful and very generous. She was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. She was the ultimate 'big sister' to her four siblings, very proud of her son and loved her granddaughter Marissa. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by an infant daughter (Ivey Lee), a sister and brother-in-law (Mary Ellen & Warren Coble), a brother (Robert Lee McNeal) and two nephews. She is survived by her son (R. Wayne Barbee) and wife (Jeanne) of Glen Allen, VA; granddaughter (Marissa Barbee) of Richmond, VA; sister and brother-in-law (Martha Ann and Randy Ward) of Gibsonville, NC; sister (Linda Jean McNeal) of Greensboro, NC, and sister-in-law (Maggie McNeal) of Summerfield, NC. She is also survived by four nieces, two nephews, many great-nieces and great-nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro (HPCG) at 2500 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27405 or to Gospel Baptist Church at 5945 North Church Street, Greensboro, NC 27455. The family expresses a special thank you to the staff at Friends Homes at Guilford who provided compassionate care to Carlene in recent years, and the staff of HPCG for making Carlene's last days and hours more comfortable. The family will receive friends on Monday, August 5, 2013 from 6 to 8 PM at Lambeth-Troxler Funeral Home (300 W. Wendover Ave; Greensboro, NC 27408).