Patricia Poole Barbee

Patricia Elizabeth Poole Barbee, age 78 went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Atrium Health Wake Forest High Point Medical Center. Mrs. Barbee, who bravely battled COPD for years, had been in declining health for the past several months. Mrs. Barbee was born on December 21, 1947, in Winston-Salem to Pleasant Van Poole and Margaret Ballinger Poole. She was preceded in death by her parents and a daughter April Robertson.

Mrs. Barbee attended Hanes High School and North Forsyth High School in Winston Salem. There she used the skills she had learned from her parents by excelling in softball, basketball and volleyball. She later worked at Integon Insurance where she played for the women’s softball teams much to the delight of her father who was the coach for that team and her mother who was her number 1 fan. As she became increasingly ill, she chose to follow in her mother’s footprints. When her mother was seriously ill-her motto was “Care for the future of others”. During Mrs. Barbee’s last few visits to the hospital, she handed out Little Jesus-statues with the words “Jesus Loves You” as a thank you and an encouragement to each healthcare member who entered her rooms.

Left to cherish her memory is 1 sister Marsha Byrd (Dewayne) of King North Carolina, 1 son Van Swink (Amy) of King North Carolina, 1 daughter Teressa Williams (Stewart) -with whom she lived and was thoughtfully cared for-of High Point North Carolina; 7 grandchildren Samantha Morales (Ruben); Elizabeth Williams, Haley Robertson, Sarah Tate, Alexandra Swink, Kayla Shumate, Britany Shumate; 9 great grandchildren Anna Alicia Morales, Brycen Hefner, Heavenly Rose Murphy, Jonah Chastian, Brooklyn Curry, Stella Wright, Lillian Hayes, Aislinn Frost, Analia Mendoza and 3 nieces, 1 nephew, 2 grand nieces, 5 grand nephews, 4 great grandnieces, 1 great grandnephew. Patricia Elizabeth Barbee was sometimes called Patricia or Pat but was most often called Tish, Mom, Granny or Aunt Tishie by the ones who loved her most.

The family extends special thanks and appreciation to Don Bulla PA-C and Dr. Wayne Beauford at Bethany Medical in High Point: Dr. Meghan Hicks and Dr. Connor Mosley at Atrium Health Wake Forest High Point Medical Center and the staff of both the ICU and CCU units at Atrium Health Wake Forest High Point Medical Center for the excellent and loving care given to Mrs. Barbee.

At Mrs. Barbee's request there will be no formal funeral service. The family will gather together for a Celebration of Life and will later meet at the coast for a time of remembering and scattering of remains.