Joe Blake Barefoot, 90, passed away peacefully at his home in Hallsboro on March 5th, 2022. He was born June 20, 1931 to Myrtle Thompson and Henry Person “Bud” Barefoot. He was raised at the Barefoot Homeplace which he, together with his wife, Anne, lovingly cared for throughout the rest of his life. Joe Blake, or “Foots” as he was known by both friends and family, graduated from Hallsboro High School in 1952. In his later years he enjoyed gathering annually with his classmates to reminisce and enjoy a meal at Dale’s Seafood at Lake Waccamaw.
There was nothing broken that Foots couldn’t fix, no vegetable in a garden he couldn’t grow, and no aching soul he couldn’t soothe with his sense of humor and caring heart.
Throughout his life, whether on the tractor, a motorcycle, in the pilot’s seat of a Cessna, or teaching his grandchildren how to drive in his pick-up trucks, Joe Blake felt most at home in the driver’s seat. Perhaps the drive he enjoyed most and made most often in his years of retirement was to “Foots on the Toe”, his and Anne’s mountain home on the banks of the Toe River in Minneapolis, NC.
His family will forever cherish their memories of Foots singing Happy Birthday on their special day, jumping on the trampoline, feeding the deer, hummingbirds, fish, and slipping the dogs and cats table scraps behind Anne’s back, and grilling the perfect steak.
Joe Blake is preceded in death by his sister Iris Baker (Bryant) and his brother-in-law Jack Farley (Eva) and many close cousins and dear friends. He was the supportive husband of Anne Farley Barefoot and loving father to JoAnne Biser (Dan) of Hallsboro and Art Barefoot of Bahama. In addition he is survived by nieces Jeannette Bledsoe (John) and Penny Turner (Craig) and their families, his five grandchildren Blake Brookshire (Tim), Blair Biser (Elizabeth), Jennie Marie Bryan (Kurt), Cade Barefoot (Taylor),and Acelynn Barefoot, and his five great grandchildren: Adam, Ella, Marie, Chloe, and Sydney. The family wishes to extend their gratitude and love to the special companions that provided care to Joe Blake over the last several months – Betty Jo Barnhill, Pauline Smith, Renee Smith, Dannie Dudley, Devoria Anders, Lena McNeill, and Rebecca Watts.
The family will hold a private graveside service with a celebration of Joe Blake’s life planned for the late spring. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hallsboro United Methodist Church, (Joe Blake’s home church), the Hallsboro Volunteer Fire Department of which he was a charter member, or to a charity of your choice
