Barbara Virginia Barbee

Barbara Virginia Harwood Barbee passed away in her home peacefully on Thursday, March 26, 2026.

A native of Winston-Salem, Barbara was born on May 20, 1937, to the late Virginia and Edgar Harwood. She graduated from R.J. Reynolds High School and completed her college degree at St. Mary's in Raleigh. She met her future husband, Claude V. Barbee at UNC Chapel Hill. The two were married on January 30, 1958, eventually settling in Greensboro where they built their life and raised their children, Nancy, Charlie and Kim.

Barbara was a member of Mt. Pisgah Church in Greensboro. A woman of many talents, she was an avid painter and found great joy in knitting, sewing, and reupholstering furniture. She was truly the life of the party. With a contagious smile and a vibrant spirit, she was often the first to arrive anywhere there was fun to be had. She loved playing bridge and was a natural host who cherished time spent with her friends and family.

In addition to her parents, Barbara was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Claude V. Barbee; her son, Charles Anthony Barbee; her sister, Peggy Harwood Steele; and her brother, Ronnie Harwood. She is survived by her daughters, Nancy Barbee Karukas (Chris Hall) and Kim Barbee (Jon Rumsey) of Greensboro; and the many nieces, nephews, and their children whom she adored.

A memorial service to celebrate Barbara's life will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at the Greensboro Elks Lodge, 2201 W Cornwallis Dr, Greensboro, NC 27408. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Barbara's memory to one of the following organizations dedicated to Alzheimer's research: - The Alzheimer's Association - Cure Alzheimer's Fund - Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF)