Lawrence N. Barnwell

Lawrence was born September 1, 1925, in Henderson County. He was the son of the late Burma Kimbell Barnwell and the late Eli Otto Barnwell. He served his country in the United States Navy which he left in 1951. Mr. Barnwell was a self-employed building contractor. Upon his retirement, he served as a volunteer at the Mission-St. Joseph’s Hospital System. He was a member of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and other church officers for over forty years.

Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Ruth Woods Barnwell; daughters, Priscilla Briggs of Arden, Linda Parton of Greeneville, TN, Mary Brewer of Arden; sons, Stephen Barnwell of Arden, Randy Barnwell of Mali in West Africa, Larry Barnwell of Fletcher and Freddie Barnwell of Asheville; sisters, Virginia Redick of Fletcher and Helen Bene of Edneyville; brother, David Barnwell of Fletcher; 15 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

The funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM Friday at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Overlook Road, with the Reverends Cecil Robinson and Jonathon Rogers officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 7:00 - 9:00 PM Thursday at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian, 72 Long Shoals Road, where the body will remain until placed in the church one hour prior to the services. At other times the family will be at home. Flowers are acceptable, and memorials may be made to Mt. Zion Baptist Church for Montana Mission Fund, P.O. Box 88, Skyland, NC 28776.