Martha H. Barefoot

Martha Hedrick Barefoot, a resident of Brighton Gardens, Winston-Salem, NC, passed away February 18, 2022, two days shy of her 85th birthday. She will be dearly missed by her surviving children: Leslie Smith (Don) of Winston-Salem, NC; Susan McCraw (Ron) of Spartanburg, SC; and Bill Barefoot of Leesville, SC. She is also survived by her 5 grandchildren: Nelson Dickson (Stephanie), Howell Smith (Sarah), Parker Smith, Jackson Smith, and Johnsie Barefoot, as well as 2 great-grandchildren: Charlotte and Colt Dickson, and nephew, Edward Hedrick IV. She was predeceased by her parents; her brother, Edward Hedrick III and her husband of 54 years, William H. Barefoot.

Martha was born February 20, 1937, in Taylorsville, NC to Johnsie and Edward Lawrence “Lape” Hedrick. She graduated from Taylorsville High School, class of 1954, as valedictorian. She was also a graduate of her beloved Lenoir Rhyne College in 1957 and married Bill Barefoot in June of that same year. After a brief teaching career, she then devoted the next phase of her life to being a supportive wife while raising and educating her three children. Martha was widely viewed as a kind and gracious person, a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother, and a good friend to many. She delighted in celebrating the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren as well as telling and reliving her own accomplishments! She loved her hometown of Taylorsville, reading, contemporary art, sporting events, walking, shopping, family trips to Sunset Beach and Thanksgiving (the food, not the cooking). Correct grammar and academic accomplishments were also extremely important to her!

She belonged to several civic organizations including the Jr. Woman’s Club of Hickory, NC and the Symphony League of Columbia. She was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, SC, and was active in the Women of the Church, serving as a circle member, various officer positions and being honored with the distinction “Honorary Life Membership”, the highest honor awarded to WOC members in recognition of extraordinary Christian service to the WOC.

As her health and independence circumstances changed, she left behind her life and home in Columbia, but she rarely complained and handled the changes with grace and humor, always expressing gratitude for the help and care she received. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

A private family service will be held in Columbia later this month.

Donations in her memory may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 1324 Marion Street, Columbia, SC 29201 or online at www.firstprescolumbia.org/give.

Caughman-Harman Funeral Home - Lexington Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.