Barbara Poteat King Davidian

1949 - 2025

Barbara Poteat King Davidian

August 17, 1949 - December 17, 2025

Smithfield, North Carolina - Barbara Jeanne Poteat King Davidian arrived in Brooklyn, NY, on August 17, 1949, the daughter of Dr. Hubert McNeill Poteat, Jr., and Jeanne Louise Leege Poteat. Her father believed she was a princess and she joyously lived up to that recognition. Two older brothers attempted to degrade that status, but never succeeded as long as her daddy was around.

In 1951, Johnston Memorial Hospital in Smithfield, NC, was opening, and Dr. Poteat accepted a position as one of its two general surgeons. Thus began Barbara's lifelong love affair with all things Johnston County (hereinafter called JoCo). She attended high school at Peace College in Raleigh and graduated from Converse College in Spartanburg, SC. While at Converse, she spent her junior year studying in Madrid and it was there she realized there was a world of interesting people and places she had not yet explored. Barbara took a job as a travel agent in Orangeburg, SC, under the guidance of Nonie Sims and the globe became her realm. Rarely was her suitcase unpacked. She needed to speak knowingly of places her clients were visiting, so she traveled herself.

Barbara finally returned to JoCo in the mid-1980s, and A Travel Odyssey was born! Clients turned into best friends, and best friends always got remarkable bonuses added to their trips. Barbara knew who to call for theatre tickets, private car tours, impossible dinner reservations, and hotel perks. If she thought of a way to make an event even more spectacular, she moved heaven and earth to make it happen. Frequently, an unexpected bottle of champagne or a vase of roses would show up. Cruises and tours featuring renowned concert pianist Emile Pandolfi would find Barbara's groups enjoying a concert and catered dinner in Catherine's Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia, or in a palace on the Grand Canal in Venice. Excursions to the Arctic Circle included a

night in heated glass igloos watching the Aurora Borealis dance across the sky. Or clients might find themselves helping prepare a meal in the personal kitchen of a renowned London chef. Barbara hired knowledgeable, personable guides to take care of her best friends and those guides became family members. Barbara fell in love with Mike (Mehran) Davidian several years after she moved back to Smithfield. It could have been his New York accent or his love for that city that sparked the common connection, but whatever it was, Mike had it and they made a great team. She planned a large celebration for Mike's sixtieth birthday, inviting all their friends and families, with something special tacked on-their surprise wedding!

Barbara is survived by all these best friends, who filled her joyous world with laughter and love and passion. She is also survived by her brother Dr. Robert M. Poteat (Bob) and his wife Hannah of Littleton, NC, and their two daughters, Hannah Poteat (Mike Johnson) of Oakland, Ca., and Morgan Corbett (Brian) of Raleigh; a great nephew, Charles Corbett of Charleston, SC, two great nieces, Essie and Louise Corbett of Raleigh; a stepson, Josh Davidian of Wilmington, and two stepdaughters, Kathryn Davidian of Nashville, Tn., and Adrian (Beau) Allison of Chattanooga, Tn., and four grandchildren.

Barbara was predeceased by her parents, her brother Dr. William L. Poteat of Columbia, SC (Cheryl), and her nephew, Hubert McNeill Poteat, III of Raleigh.

Her service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Smithfield. Internment in the church graveyard and reception in the parish hall will follow the service.

The family and all those best friends express their undying gratitude to the remarkable care Barbara received in JoCo, especially from Dr. Eric Janis, Dr. Russell Anderson, and Dr. Dennis Koffer.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Masonic Children's Home in Oxford, NC; Hospice of Johnston County, the American Cancer Society, or to the Hubie Poteat Memorial Scholarship Fund with Triangle Community Foundation (https://nccf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=17075)