Allen Cromwell Barbee

Allen Cromwell Barbee of Spring Hope, NC, 93, died Wednesday, February 11, 2004.
Allen was the son of John Lucian Barbee and Deborah Vester Barbee. He was the last surviving child of eight children. He graduated from Spring Hope School and entered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a football scholarship.
After serving on the town board and Mayor of Spring Hope for nine years, he was elected to the N.C. House of Representatives with the exception of one term when he ran for Lt. Governor. Allen served from 1961 to 1987. During his tenure two years were served as speaker pro- tempore. Allen served his church many years as chairman of finance and the Administrative Board. He served as a director on the Board of Peoples Bank, Trustee of N.C. Wesleyan College, Nash Community College, University of North Carolina Board of Governors, and locally the Morehead Scholarship Board. He started the Spring Hope Enterprise and was a founder of Peachtree Hills Country Club in Spring Hope. Also Allen was a member of Benvenue Country Club in Rocky Mount and Carolina Country Club in Raleigh.
Allen served in World War II in England and was honorably discharged as a Captain in the Air Force.
Surviving are his wife, Mable Dixon Barbee; daughter, Rebecca Barnes Barbee Perniciaro and husband, Peter of Wrightsville Beach, NC and children, Matthew and Jessica; son, Allen Cromwell Barbee II of Spring Hope, and many devoted nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on February 14, at 1 p.m. at Gibson Memorial United Methodist Church in Spring Hope, NC. There will be a private burial prior to the Memorial Service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Gibson Memorial United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 770, Spring Hope, NC 27882.
Arrangements entrusted by Spring Hope Funeral Home, 7881 Webbs Mill Road, Spring Hope, NC 27882.