Service Announcements

Tracy Charles Barrett, of Charlotte, NC. passed away Thursday, August 8,2019 at Novant Health Main. Funeral service will be held Saturday, August 17,2019 at Statesville Ave. Presbyterian Church 3425 Nevin Rd. Charlotte, NC 28262. Visitation will begin at 11:30 am and the service will follow at 12:30 pm. Interment will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery West. 4601 Freedom Dr. Charlotte, NC 28214.

My name is Tracy Charles Barrett.  I was born the third child of four to Francis and Strauda Barrett on June 27, 1938 in Hemp, North Carolina.  Ten years later, Hemp, NC was changed to Robbins, NC as it is known today.

At this time, my parents were living with my great-grandparents, Vessie and Annie Simmons, on their farm.  They farmed and hunted 90% of their food.  We lived in a log house we called The Big House with no running water, no electricity, one glass window and two wooden windows.  The kitchen was attached to the outside of the log cabin.  In order to get into the kitchen, we had to leave out the front door and onto the porch.  They cooked with a wooden cook stove and heated the house with a fireplace and the drinking water was from a spring.  My Grandma Annie and Grandpa Vessie were the neighborhood and family doctors.  Grandma Annie used herbs for healing sickness and illness.  She was also a helper to the mid-wives with delivering babies.  She even assisted my mother with delivering my sisters, my brother and myself in the big house.  Grandpa Vessie could talk the fire out of people when they had gotten burned.  He also made about 90% of our Christmas toys and he always made a hog bladder raddle toy.  They were freed slaves and were the off-spring of the slave master.  My great-grandfather Vessie received his forty acres plus and a mule.

At seven days old, I got sick with asthma and eczema, which affected my health for several years and I wasn’t able to start school until I was eight years old.  I started school at Long Leaf Elementary School, which was a two room school, with two teachers who taught grades one through eight.  Each grade had five classes per day.  The school had wood heat in each classroom with no running water and the only bathrooms were outside.  During the middle of my eight grade year, I was transferred to Davis Elementary School and it had electricity, running water and inside bathrooms.  I started Ninth grade at Pinckney High School in Carthage, NC.  This was 15 miles from Robbins, NC, but a 40 mile bus ride one way.  While in high school, I played baseball and football.  I had to study and do homework by the fireplace light.  I also performed several odd jobs to earn money, which allowed me to purchase my first car for $100 cash, a 1946 Custom Ford.  Upon graduating from high school, I received a Football Work-Aid Scholarship from Johnson C. Smith University, in 1958.  After my first year, I was cut from the football team and had to work my way through college.  While in college in the early 1960’s, I participated in the bus boycott and the lunch counter sit-ins; J.P. Ivey’s and Belk’s Department stores were the main targets.  Some of the other places were Woolworth’s, Kress’, Eckerd’s Drug Store and White Tower Restaurant.

December 21, 1963, I married my college sweetheart, Jacquelyn Jones of Columbia, SC.  In January 1965, she and our unborn son, Clifton, died during childbirth.

October 25, 1965, I joined the Charlotte City Police Department as a Police Officer.  I was the 15^th black police officer on the police force at that time.  After my second week of orientation, I was assigned to walk the Uptown beat with a white training officer.  I was the first Black Officer assigned to foot patrol in the Uptown area.  After one night of walking the beat, the white officer refused to train me any longer and resigned from the department.  After about three weeks of walking the downtown beat alone during the Midnight shift, three black homes were bombed in the West Charlotte area.  For two weeks, I was assigned to guard those three bombed homes.  After that assignment ended, I was assigned back to the Uptown beat.  During inclement weather conditions; I had to continue to walk the foot patrol, while other officers were put in cars to patrol.  After working foot patrol and different assignments in the predominantly black areas for four months, I started my two month rookie school training.  After graduating rookie school, I was assigned to the Patrol Department working different areas.  Three years later, I was assigned to the first integrated car, working special assignments in the predominantly black areas.  After six months, I was assigned back to regular patrol, until I retired in June 1988.

While working full time as a Police Officer, I was able to return to college and graduate from Johnson C. Smith University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree, double majoring in Political Science and Social Studies!

March 25, 1967, I met and married Rachel Alexander of Charlotte, NC.  Through that Union, we had one daughter, Shanna Helene Barrett and now have two granddaughters, Haley Larue and Kaasi Lauryn-Louise Barkley.

In 1967, I joined Unique Lodge #85, Prince Hall affiliated and in 1989, I received 33^rd Honorary Degree in the Prince Hall Mason.

In 1969, I joined Statesville Avenue Presbyterian Church and I’m still a current and active member.  During these years, I’ve held the office of Trustee Board, Deacon Board and several church committees.

I enjoyed three years of retirement and in 1991 decided to go back to work to drive Special Transportation for Social Services.  I drove clients to their assigned destinations until 2006, which is when I became sick and had to retire after sixteen years of service.

I suffered from two major strokes, stayed in a nursing home for four months and spent one year at home recuperating.  In 2008, I was then able to join The 55 Age Plus Adult Program at The Johnston YMCA, where I currently attend four to five days a week for physical exercise.  This is where I call my second home; The HUT!

This is MY Life, written January 20, 2013.

Tracy is survived by his sister, Ada S. Barrett of Charlotte, NC; his daughter, Shanna H. Barrett and granddaughters, Haley Larue and Kaasi Lauryn-Louise Barkley, of Charlotte, NC; his Niece, Anita Barrett and Sister-in-Law Rebecca Barrett, of Bronx, NY; his Nephew, Walter G. Brown (Nesha) and daughters of Memphis, TN; his Niece, Jeta B. Price (Kevin) and children, of Asheboro, NC; his Niece, Felecia Brown and sons, of Asheboro, NC; his Nephew, Titus Brown (Donna) and son of Robbins, NC; his special 1^st cousin, Lawrence (Pete) Barrett and family, Rochester, NY, a host of wonderful friends, Robert and Jarriette Reives, Rochelle and Guy Barnes, David and Lou Franklin, Mr. Roy Hill, Mr. Tim Harris and the whole Tipperary Family; and the complete Barrett – Simmons Family!