Austin Barnett

Austin Barnett, 25, of Otway, passed away on Friday, October 11, 2024, at UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill.

At the age of 2, Austin moved to Otway. The blond curly haired toddler with a smile a mile wide captured the hearts of the neighborhood. There, he grew to learn to ride bikes, that later turned into his love of go-carts and motorcycles. Not only did he love to ride them, but he loved the challenge of fixing them when they were broken. 

As he grew, his special friend who was like a daddy to him, Brownie Lawrence, took him under his wing. Austin was always helping him work on cars or trucks, sometimes on his own motorcycles, go-carts, and that one minibike that he loved. Together, often with Austin’s little sister Destiny tagging along, they hunted, fished, and crabbed. Always wanting to be outside, when he got old enough, he helped the neighborhood “Granddaddy” in the field planting collards and other vegetables and loved to go sell them on Saturday morning. “Granddaddy” would pay him and would have to take him to Crossroads so he could buy plenty of junk food before going home. Anyone that knew Austin knew that he loved to eat, and he was not picky. If he killed it or caught it in the water, he loved to eat it. He was not shy about eating and often joined the neighbors for supper. 

Austin’s last weeks were spent at UNC- Chapel Hill with heart complications. There he had the chance to be with those he loved and feel the love that they had for him. But most importantly, Austin had time to get his soul right with Jesus and his sins were washed away and he is walking on streets of gold with that smile a mile wide. 

A graveside service will be held at the Lawrence Family Cemetery in Otway at 2:00 PM on Friday, October 18, 2024. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Thursday at Otway Christian Church.

He is survived by his father, Dana Barnett of Otway; mother, Tommie Powell and stepfather, Stuart of Goldsboro; brother, Joseph Jernigan and wife, Jayda of Hartsville, SC; sister, Destiny Barnett of Goldsboro; paternal grandmother, Mildred Barnett of Campbellsville, KY; maternal grandmother, Linda Jernigan of Goldsboro; two nieces, Madelyn Jernigan of Goldsboro; Dailynn Jernigan of Goldsboro; five nephews, Brenden Jernigan of Hartsville, SC; Levi Jernigan of Hartsville, SC; Aden Prosser of Indianapolis, IN; Tanner Prosser of Indianapolis, IN; Bretly Prosser of Indianapolis, IN; three uncles, Mark Barnett of Monterey, TN; George Jernigan of WV; John Jernigan of KY; five aunts, Vickie Dresher of Louisville, KY; Lisa Bishop of Louisville, KY; Cindy Wilburn of Goldsboro; Kimberly Jernigan of Goldsboro; Melinda Jernigan of Goldsboro.

 He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Tommy Jernigan; sister, Jessica Petry; and paternal grandfather, Hubert Barnett. 

 Condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noefs.net

Arrangements by Noe Funeral Service, Inc. of Beaufort, NC.