Melinda Weaver Barefoot

Clayton, NC: Mrs. Melinda Weaver Barefoot, age 77, of Ranch Road passed away on Monday, March 3, 2025 at Kitty Askins Hospice House in Goldsboro surrounded by her loving family. Funeral Services will be 11:00AM-Saturday, March 8, 2025 at the Rose & Graham Funeral Home Chapel in Benson. Pastor Eddie White will officiate. Burial will follow in the Parker Family Cemetery in Four Oaks.

Melinda was born on October 15, 1947 in Wake County, NC to the late Junius Buddie Weaver, Sr. and Mozelle Parker Weaver. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her infant brother, Carl Lee Weaver. Melinda’s lifelong passion was for the care of the lesser creatures among us. Melinda founded the Johnston County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in 1980 and operated it until 2012. 

From the smallest insect to the most majestic creature, Melinda saw beauty and worth in every living being. It wasn’t enough for her to simply love animals in the way we might casually love a pet or a passing animal we see on the street. Whether it was rescuing a lost kitten or caring for injured wildlife, Melinda did not hesitate to act. She did not wait for someone else to step in; she was always the first to offer help and the last to leave when it was needed most. Her connection to animals was more than a bond; it was a calling, a purpose that guided her through life with unwavering devotion. 

She didn’t simply care for animals because it was the right thing to do, she cared because she understood, deep down, that animals have their own stories, their own struggles, their own needs. Melinda knew that every life mattered, no matter how small or unrecognized.

Though we deeply feel the weight of this loss, Melinda’s legacy will continue to inspire us all. It will remind us to be kind to the creatures we encounter, to care for the world around us, and to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

As we say goodbye, let us remember the warmth, the dedication, and the unwavering spirit of Melinda. Let us promise to continue her work in every way we can to help animals, protect them, and love them as she did. Though she may no longer walk among us, the animals she championed will always carry a piece of her legacy, and so will we. Melinda’s love for all creatures, great and small will never be forgotten.

Survivors include her husband of 50 years, Wayne Barefoot of Clayton; brothers, J.B. Weaver and wife, Veronica of Selma and Barney Ray Weaver of Cary; sister-in-law, Tanja Carroll and husband, Jeff of Raleigh; brother-in-law, Steve Barefoot and wife, Susan of Four Oaks; many loving nieces and nephews. 

The family will receive friends from 10:00AM to 10:45AM on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at the Rose & Graham Funeral Home in Benson prior to the service and other times at the home of Tanja and Jeff Carroll, 900 Lenderman’s Circle, Raleigh, NC 27603.

Flowers are welcomed; however, memorials may be made to your local non-profit animal rescue or Kitty Askins Hospice House, 107 Handley Park Court, Goldsboro, NC 27534.

Arrangements by Rose & Graham Funeral Home in Benson, NC