It is with grief in our hearts, and tranquility in our minds to announce the peaceful passing of Mrs. Grace Virginia Rector Barrett of 146 Briarwood Drive in Lexington. Grace joined her Heavenly Father with placidity while at sleep and free of pain in her family home on December 27, 2017. She was under the care of her devoted husband, Ron, and Hospice of Davidson County.

She was born on December 19, 1938, in Anderson, SC, to JW Rector and Myrtie Gilliard Rector. She graduated from Lander College of Greenwood, SC in 1960 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Keyboarding, and began her passionate pursuit of teaching. She began teaching at Crescent High School in Iva, SC, for three years before marrying the one and only love of her life, Ronald Bradford Barrett.

They then moved to Gainesville, FL, where she continued to teach while Ron attended graduate school. From there, they moved to Young Harris, GA where she taught at Towns County High School for two years before they moved to Lexington, NC, where they would settle and begin a family. She continued to teach: Business and Keyboarding for Davidson County Community College, Vocational Studies for Davidson County Schools at North Davidson Senior High, and then Exceptional Children at North Davidson High School until her retirement.

While active in her life, Grace enjoyed many activities that she shared passionately with her husband, Ron. Among them were attending monthly Bridge games and dinners with close friends and colleagues, going to a variety of dances where she could kick up her heels, family hiatuses in a Condo at Myrtle Beach, SC, during the month of October with her family, and traveling extensively. Grace traveled throughout the United States and Canada with her husband and children in her former years and with her husband in her latter years. After retirement, their passion for travel continued with multiple trips to Europe, Asia, and South America until she was stricken with Alzheimer’s disease, and could no longer travel.

As an only child, Grace was preceded in death by her mother, Myrtie Gilliard Rector and her father, JW Rector, both of Anderson, SC.

She leaves behind her sole companion, dance partner, travel companion, and unyielding caretaker Ron Barrett of the home, son Brad Barrett of Greensboro, NC, daughter Kelley Michelle Barrett Wagner with her husband Thomas Robert Wagner along with their two children, Grace’s grandson Charles “Chase” Robert Wagner, and her granddaughter Tristen Grace Wagner, all of Lexington, NC.

The immediate family only will hold a private service, along with their Pastor, for the inurnment in their church’s columbarium. There will then be a Celebration of Life for friends and family at Paul’s Chapel Church located at 2791 West Center Street Extension, Lexington, NC 27295 on December 30, from 3:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. The Memorial Service, under the direction of Pastor Aaron Long will begin immediately after the receiving at 4:00 p.m. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her honor with God’s blessings to Paul’s Chapel Church, Hospice of Davidson County, and/or The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

Davie Burial & Cremation Service of Lexington is serving the Barrett family. An online guest registry is available at www.daviefunerallexington.com.

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