Leslie (Honeycutt) Barnette

Leslie Pauline (Honeycutt) Barnette passed into the arms of her Savior on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at her residence at the age of 73, following a brief battle with cancer. Born in Catawba County on August 21, 1952. Leslie’s early years in the loving home of her parents Guy Paul Honeycutt and Pauline Houston Honeycutt set a strong foundation for the values of faith, hard work, education, and love of family that she exhibited throughout her life.

In addition to her parents, Leslie was preceded in death by her husband Douglas C. Barnette; daughter Ashley Hope Barnette; a brother Guy Paul Honeycutt Jr.; and sisters Janice Honeycutt Lane and Rebecca Honeycutt Poe. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Jason and Faye Honeycutt, who lovingly cared for her in the final days of her life; brothers-in-law David Poe and brother-in-law, Jim Lane; seven grandchildren; thirteen great grandchildren; and a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Leslie was a well-known educator having served as a teacher assistant at St. Stephens Elementary, a classroom teacher at South Newton Elementary, an assistant principal at Granite Falls Elementary, Clyde Campbell Elementary, and Murray Elementary. She was the principal at Oxford Elementary and Lyle Creek Elementary. At the district level she served as the Director of Elementary Education, Federal Programs, Early Head Start, and Preschool for Catawba County Schools. She retired in 2018 with 42 years of service to the children of North Carolina. On her retirement she was elected twice to 4-year terms on the Catawba County board of Education, (Where she was still serving at the time of her death)

Leslie was a graduate of St. Stephens High School. She earned her Undergraduate degree and a Master’s degree from Lenoir-Rhyne University, a sixth-year Specialist degree and a Doctorate in Education from Appalachian State University.

In addition to her professional service, Leslie loved serving others. Her volunteer service included Meals on Wheels, AARP Tax Aide, the Bishop’s Storehouse, and Ashure Ministry. She was a faithful and active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where she currently served as the President of the Relief Society, and formerly served as Young Women’s President, Primary President, and Seminary Teacher. In 2018, she was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian honor awarded by the Governor of North Carolina.

The family will receive friends on, Saturday, September 13, 2025 from 10:00 am to 12:45 pm at her church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which is located at 503 Thornburg Drive NE, Conover, NC 28613. Her funeral will follow at 1:00 pm at the same location. Interment will follow at St. Stephens Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) located at 2304 Springs Road Hickory, NC 28601. At other times, the family will gather at Leslie’s home.