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March 28, 2024

Martha Hedrick Barefoot

Martha Hedrick Barefoot

Martha Hedrick Barefoot 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, Susan McCraw (Ron) of Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Bill Barefoot of Leesville, South Carolina. She is also survived by her five grandchildren, Nelson Dickson (Stephanie), Howell Smith (Sarah), Parker Smith, Jackson Smith, and Johnsie Barefoot; as well as two 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, to Johnsie and Edward Lawrence “Lape” Hedrick. She attended and graduated from Taylorsville High School, class of 1954, as valedictorian. She graduated from 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, 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 and the Symphony League of Columbia. She was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina, and was active in the Women of the Church, serving as a circle member, in 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 may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 1324 Marion Street, Columbia, SC 29201.

Caughman-Harmon Funeral Home of Lexington, South Carolina, is serving the family of Martha Barefoot.

1 Comment

  1. Dorothy Stamey Hargrove on February 23, 2022 at 5:25 am

    I, too, grew up in Taylorsville, North Carolina, and along with Martha and her brother, Edward, was a member of the Taylorsville Presbyterian Church Martha’s mother was my 4th grade teacher at Taylorsville Elementary School.
    The Hedricks were an amazing family and cornerstones of our town and church.

    Blessings to you at this time.
    Dorothy Stamey Hargrove

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