Durwood Grant Barefoot Obituary (1942 - 2015)

Durwood Grant Barefoot, 72, passed away peacefully at his home on May 15, 2015. Durwood was the first of five children, born August 25, 1942 in Johnston County, NC to the late Garland Grant and Mary Catherine Raynor Barefoot. He was the Valedictorian of his class at Anderson Creek High School and was nominated for the Moorehead Scholarship at UNC, Chapel Hill. He was drafted and served two years in the US Army and was stationed in Spokane, Washington. After his honorable discharge, he married, had two daughters, and worked as the assistant branch manager at Pittsburgh Paint. He attended North Carolina State University in 1971 and by 1974, he had completed a four year degree in Food Science after only three years. He was on the Dean's List and graduated in the top third of his class, while working two jobs to support a family of four. After graduation, Durwood worked at Pillsbury Research and Development Laboratories in Minneapolis, Minnesota as a product development scientist, and a consultant with Anacon Foods in Roseville, Minnesota. Desiring to be closer to home, Durwood moved back to Anderson Creek and worked for West Splicing Company. Durwood met Peggy Ann Poole in March of 1988. After a four year courtship, they married on March 28, 1992. They purchased land in Anderson Creek and began farming watermelons for Food Lion, Walmart and local produce markets. He donated countless watermelons to the food bank, local churches and other charities. Durwood was a family-man and a strong member of the community. Together, Durwood and Peggy have four children, eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Although his family, brother, sisters, nieces and nephews are close, his loss is extensive and far-reaching. He was quite social and spent a lot his time checking on the well-being and needs of others. Just days before being admitted for his last hospital visit, he spent the day at Womack Army Medical Center visiting a sick friend. It was just his nature. Durwood was a man of faith and served as a Trustee at Liberty Baptist Church. He was a greeter at the church for many years and began a fishing ministry with the children at Liberty Baptist Church. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 3:00 P. M. at Liberty Baptist Church in Spring Lake with burial to follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at a visitation on Saturday, May 16, 2015 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Adcock Funeral Home & Crematory in Spring Lake. Durwood is survived by his wife, Peggy Poole Barefoot; his children, Michelle Gerringer (Keith) and Andrea Barefoot; step-children, Kenneth and Rhonda Foshee; grandchildren, Jeremy Dammann, Colton Gerringer, Dane, Olivia, Brooke and Brayden Martin; step-grandchildren, Jacob, Michelle and Daniel Foshee and Jessica and Michael Dunbar; great-grandchildren, Alexis, Logan and Daisy Dammann; siblings, Shirley Lee, Patsy West (Dallas), Carolyn Warren (Charles) and Benny Barefoot (Peggy). In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Liberty Baptist Church Building Fund, 1625 Ray Road, Spring Lake, NC 28390.