Carolyn Elizabeth Culbreth Barker, M.D.

Carolyn Elizabeth Culbreth Barker, M.D., a resident of Oxford, North Carolina, died on October 26, 2024, at age 91. She was born in Lee County Hospital on August 22, 1933, to Carl Cooper Culbreth and Hellen Davis Freeland Culbreth. In 1935, the family moved to Durham, N.C. Carolyn graduated from Durham High School in 1951, valedictorian of her class. She then attended the Women’s College of Duke University, where she was a member of Ivy, a freshman honorary society, and Phi Beta Kappa. In September 1952 and again in September 1953, she was awarded the gold “D” for the highest scholastic average in the Women’s College. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Duke University in 1954.

 In September 1954, she entered the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. She was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society and received the American Medical Women’s Association Award upon graduation in 1958. After her internship in general medicine at Watts Hospital in Durham, N.C., she completed a residency in psychiatry at John Umstead Hospital in Butner, N.C., which was affiliated with both Duke and UNC psychiatry programs. She worked in general psychiatry for many years and was Director of the Medical Unit at John Umstead from January 1974 to June 1978.

 In October 1978, she opened her office of general psychiatry in Oxford, N.C. and was affiliated with Granville Medical Center. She also worked in the psychiatric outpatient clinics in Granville and Vance counties. She was a past member of the Granville County Medical Society in which she served as secretary for 10 years; the North Carolina Medical Society; the American Medical Association; and the American Psychiatric Association. After 18 years in private practice, she retired in 1995. 

 In 1978, she was the Woman of the Year for the Oxford Business and Professional Women’s Club. Carolyn was a member of the Granville Grays Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and served as secretary for six years. She was also a member of the John Penn Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution for whom she was chaplain for six years. She was also a member of the Mary Jamison Women’s Club.

She was a member of Salem United Methodist Church and taught the adult Sunday school class for over 10 years. She was also a member of the church choir and in later years, sang with the “Singing Volunteers” at local rest homes. 

 On May 21, 1960, she married the love of her life, Ollie Tilman Barker, II., from Granville County. They had three children, Hellen Elizabeth (Beth) Barker, Roy Tilman Barker, and Michael Keith Barker. After her husband’s death in March 2004, she continued to live at home in Granville County.

Dr. Barker is survived by her daughter, Beth, of Bluffton, SC; her son, Roy and his wife Sandy, of Raleigh, NC; and her son, Michael and his wife, Sherry of Fuquay-Varina, NC. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Benjamin Maxwell Anderson and his wife, Olivia, Lydia Alane Anderson, Baxter Tilman Anderson, Madison Faith Barker Epp and her husband, Jonathan Curtis (J.C.), and Jackson Wrenn Barker. She is also survived by two great grandsons, Walker Dawson Anderson, and Wyatt Knox Anderson.

 She was predeceased by her husband, her parents, her sister, Mary Hellen Culbreth James and brother-in-law, Keith Warren James, and son-in-law, Robert Alan Anderson.

 Services will be held at Salem United Methodist Church on Friday, November 1st, 2024, at 3:30PM. Prior to the services the family will receive friends and family in the fellowship hall beginning at 2:30PM. Burial will be in the Salem Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Salem United Methodist Church, Attn Treasurer, 6639 Horner Siding Road, Oxford, NC 27565. 

 Serving as pallbearers are Roy Tilman Barker, Michael Keith Barker, Benjamin Maxwell Anderson, Jackson Wrenn Barker, Baxter Tilman Anderson, Jonathan Curtis (J.C.) Epp, and Robert Douglas Barker Jr. 

 The Barker family would like to thank the following caregivers whose love and loyalty allowed our mother to fulfill her wish to remain in her home: Audrey Harris, Vivian Holmes, Patricia Taylor, Larecia Bullock, Teressa Taylor, Carmetta Harris, Elizabeth Puryear, Sharecia Bullock, Betsy Hart, Diane Proctor, Maxine Sheftal, Cannan Terry, and Vickie Henderson. 

 Gentry - Newell, and Vaughn Funeral Services in Oxford is assisting the Barker family.