It's been a year without my friend, Anne.  Sometimes I feel she is just a phone call away; then, I realize we'll never talk and laugh together again.  I miss her so much and wish we could have been blessed with more years together, enjoying lunch dates and our occasional shopping spree.   Anne didn't enjoy shopping as much as I, but she was always willing to tag along with me.  Sometimes we actually found an item she liked!  We grew up in the same small town and the longer we lived, the closer we became.  What a blessing she was in my life!  Rest in peace,  my dear friend.

Anne and I worked together at Mecklenburg County DSS for many years. It was a privilege  to work with Anne, she was  a good friend and valued co-worker.  My thoughts and prayers are with her family.

Anne was a valued and faithful member of the American Red Cross family and a wonderful volunteer for blood drives.   Anne was a pleasure to work with and she is truly missed.  Our sympathies to Anne's many family members and friends in this time.

When I think of Anne, I am reminded of the special bond which exists among “family.” We were cousins, born a year apart but separated by distance. I was born in Orrum, and she was born in Red Springs, and in the 1940s, it was a long way to travel to visit very often. Since my family lived close to our grandmother, I didn’t think about how she must have cherished those  visits from her son’s family. As we became older and started school, I realized that Anne lived in a “city”, and I was a country girl. I loved being invited to visit her because we could walk up and down the streets, and she could see her friends. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I believe Aunt Florence thought it was important for Anne to spend time with her Barden relatives, because she had plenty of friends down the street. It was the same with Sandra and my older sister Kitty. They were five years older but had grown up spending time together and getting to know one another. As we grew older and became involved with school activities and friends, the opportunity to see family members became an effort, but I will never forget how they never missed attending special family occasions. They would make every effort as family-even after Anne and Sandra had families of their own-to be present for our special occasions. Anne was a bridesmaid in my wedding because she was family, even though our lives had gone in different directions. I have tried to emphasize FAMILY, because I learned many lessons about its importance. I know she had many friends, but her family was her priority. I felt honored that she desired a relationship with me, even when she was much closer to her life-long friends. She was a giver and gave so much of herself. She watched as her sister passed away, knowing that Lee and Gray would always remain by her side as she had always been by theirs. They were family and real family is always there for you. They gave so much of themselves for the aunt who had given her love to them. 

Anne was a wonderful, lifetime friend who brightened my life!  We grew up together in Red Springs, NC, and continued our friendship when we both moved to the coast.  Being together was our way of staying connected with our past while living in the present!  Our shared lunches and shopping sprees always included memories of past experiences and updates of friends we both shared.  Not a month would past without one of us setting up a lunch date, usually in Calabash, NC, a halfway point for each of us to travel.  It is so difficult to realize our happy times have ended here on Earth, but I know Anne has found eternal happiness in Heaven and I will see her again.

Anne was not only a beautiful person but a great friend to many.  Sandra and I spent many wonderful times here at the beach with Anne and a lot of Red Springs friends.  

While we will miss her, God has another blessed soul in heaven's care.  May her memory bring happiness to all.  

OBITUARY

Anne Barden Padgett

February 20, 1947 – January 24, 2021

Peacock, Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service

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