James Willard Barnes died peacefully on July 9, 2026 in Charlotte, NC. Born and raised in Northampton County, NC, James was the only child of Godwin and Mary Barnes. He once said that the thing he wanted most was to make his parents happy.
Unlike his father, who attended Duke University, James attended the University of North Carolina where he majored in business. While there he met Patricia Matthews, a nurse working at the UNC Hospital, with whom he would spend 59 years of marriage. They enjoyed their life together, traveling widely across the United States together and continuing to enjoy their closeness with relatives from both of their families.
James worked in insurance his entire career and Pat worked with the American Red Cross living in Raleigh and Durham before eventually making Charlotte their home city. They were each other’s best friends. Pat died in 2019 after a long battle with cancer. Though he desperately missed Pat, James lived the next seven years offering good words, an easy spirit, and deep gratitude to the friends and caregivers who looked after him. James will be remembered for his kindness.
A Committal Service will be held at McEwen Funeral Service at Sharon Memorial Park Mausoleum, 5716 Monroe Road, Charlotte, NC 28212, US, on July 20, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.
