James Pierce Barefield

Aug 23, 1934 - Oct 28, 2025

James Pierce Barefield was born August 23, 1934, in Jacksonville, Fla., and died October 28, 2025, in Winston-Salem, N.C. He earned his undergraduate degree from Rice University. After research in England on the Fulbright Scholarship, he completed the doctorate from The Johns Hopkins University.

From 1963-2004, Dr. Barefield taught history at Wake Forest University, retiring as University Professor Emeritus. During his tenure he developed and led the Interdisciplinary Honors program and served for over 20 years as director of the Wake Forest program in Venice. He taught six semesters at Casa Artom, Venice, and one semester at Worrell House, London. He was instrumental in the formation of post-graduate scholarship preparation programs for Wake Forest students. After retirement he assisted the Office of Admissions and Merit-based Scholarships in interviewing and assessing would-be admissions and scholarship enrollees. In 2017, for his services to Wake Forest, Dr. Barefield was awarded the Medallion of Merit, the highest University honor. Throughout his professional career, Professor Barefield devoted his life to the craft and purpose of teaching as well as to the intellectual and personal development of his students. His classrooms were legendary for his acumen, memory, and focus. Over decades, he developed his courses in the Renaissance and Reformation, and History Honors, alongside interdisciplinary explorations of writers, musicians, artists, scientists, and social scientists within the Interdisciplinary Honors curriculum. Professor Barefield was famous for employing historical fiction, with classes often taught in his home over Coca-Cola and Mint Milanos, as a way for his students to see into the essential truths of historical events. He had keen senses of irony and humor and was beloved by generations of students whose lives he enriched.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard James and Lilla Mae Pierce Barefield, and his brother Thomas William Barefield. He is survived by his paternal aunt, Ann Barefield of Winston-Salem; sister-in-law, Brenda Barefield of Tucson, Ariz.; niece and nephew, Shannon and Scott Barefield; and numerous cousins.

Dr. Barefield's family and friends wish to thank the staff at Salemtowne Retirement Community, especially Jennifer Mabe and Daniel Rainey, for their generous support of Jim during his final years.

Per Dr. Barefield's wishes there will be no formal memorial service. Family and friends of Jim encourage all who knew and revered him, anywhere around the world, to raise a glass of the finest in his honor on Sunday, November 14, at 5 p.m. EST. (Imitations of the honoree are optional but encouraged.)

Contributions in his honor can be made to The Interdisciplinary Honors Program or to Casa Artom Venice, c/o Wake Forest University Office of Advancement, 1834 Wake Forest Road, Box 7227, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, to Second Harvest Food Bank, or Crisis Control Ministries. Condolences may be shared at www.salemfh.com.

Salem Funeral & Cremation Service

2951 Reynolda Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27106

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Published by Winston-Salem Journal on Nov. 2, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for James Barefield

Sponsored by Salem Funerals & Cremations - Reynolda Rd..

2 Entries

David Coates

Yesterday

On October 26, I was in Venice with my wife, Suzanne. We went to Peggy Guggenheim's art museum and while on the vaporetto to the Academia stop I saw Casa Artom from the waters of the Grand Canal and later its simple entrance by land. I was set to visit Jim Barefield , as per our arrangement, upon my return home, but two days after seeing the place he loved in the city he loved; he left us.
Jim modelled a way of living that has instructed me long after taking 6 of his courses prior to graduation in 1971, a year before Venice was a potential stop on the way to a Wake Forest education. He read widely and was a repository and mediator of wide learning. He spoke with humor and curiosity about the world we have lived in and the lives of his students. For years when when I saw him we exchanged books. Years ago I gave him W.G. Sebald's On the Natural History of Destruction which he later used in his teaching. I have seldom felt so honored. At an age where old friends are gone and loneliness is your company, Jim had plenty of friends and visitors. He was my teacher and my friend, and like so many other people I miss him.

Kathy Bunn

November 2, 2025

Dr. Barefield was one of a kind! He was such a kind faculty member and one of my favorites!! God bless his family and friends!

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