Barbara Beck Barnett

1935 - 2025

Barbara Beck Barnett

February 18, 1935 - October 29, 2025

Raleigh, North Carolina - Barbara Beck Barnett passed away on October 29, 2025, into God's eternal embrace, surrounded by family. She was born in Seagrove, NC, to James Donald and Ramie Eleanor. She graduated from Trinity High School and entered NC Baptist Hospital School of Nursing, where she excelled and was inducted into the Santa Philomena honor society. Moving to Raleigh as a newlywed and nursing school graduate, she worked in both hospital and physician's office settings.

As her family grew, she delighted in supporting her children, nieces and their children, her grandchildren and even their friends on the sidelines of games, meets, recitals and concerts, also volunteering in many of those activities.

While working for a plastic surgery practice, she learned of a new procedure coming to the US from France. Taking her knowledge of sewing and firsthand experience assisting on the procedure, she invented the post-surgical compression garment to aid in patient care, eventually forming Caromed International to manufacture and market the products. Over her nursing and then business career, this was just one example of her tremendous ability to sense future trends and act upon them.

In 1993, she married Tom Barnett, and they formed a loving partnership in life and a team in business, expanding the size and scope of Caromed. Barbara and Tom visited many states and countries, golf clubs often in tow. The memories they made over the years of travel enriched their lives as they stayed closer to home and provided them with a great library of adventure stories, meals enjoyed, roads traveled and friends made, even some famous ones!

Barbara took immense joy in family gatherings over her 90 years including beach trips and holiday celebrations with her sisters, parents, children, and their families. She cast a wide net to include many extended family members in her circle. Proud of her ancestral heritage, she was astute at recalling family names and places, accomplishments and occupations, including leadership in the Revolutionary War, farming, education, and community building.

Barbara found lasting friendships in gardening with her friends in Raleigh's Turf Turners and then North Ridge Home and Garden Clubs, hosting bridge club, playing golf and tennis, and singing Alto I in the Oak City Voices (OCV) chorus. She was a life-long reader and instilled that love in those around her.

She is survived by her husband Tom, sister Henrietta (Sid), son Jim, daughter Beth (Gary), granddaughters Rachel (Jon), Emily, Grace, great-granddaughter Charlotte, and many special nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents, her sister Martha, and brother-in-law Willie.

A special thanks to her talented and compassionate caregivers at her home, WakeMed Raleigh and Boylan Clinic.

A life well-lived, we are grateful that she was able to convey her wishes, and if desired, donations may be made in her memory to Oak City Voices (OCV, PO Box 30394, Raleigh, NC, 27609), or Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church (8102 Erect Rd, Seagrove, NC 27341), where she was laid to rest.

Services to celebrate her life and honor her committal were officiated by a special family friend, the Reverend Molly Smerko; Brown-Wynne Raleigh is serving the family (www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/raleigh-nc/barbara-beck-barnett-12589668).