On February 28, 2024, God called one of his precious children home. Willie Mae Rucker Barrier made entrance into life on June 14, 1942, in Elberton, GA, to the late Ethel Jackson Rucker and Owen Rucker. She was the eldest of five children born to the union. She was also preceded in death by husband, Allen Marcellus Barrier; son, Kevin Andre Barrier; sister, Juanita Rucker McCaskill; brother, Wallace Rucker.

The family moved to High Point where Willie Mae grew up on Cassell Street on the Southside. At an early age, she was baptized and attended Temple Memorial Baptist Church, which had been located on Taylor Street at that time. Willie Mae was educated in the High Point Public Schools and was a graduate of William Penn High School, Class of 1962. She was also a member of the Pointers Club. She was a member of the Board of Directors for the Open Door Ministries from 1990-1997.

As a teenager, Willie Mae worked at Sibert’s Grill located at Fairview and Loflin Streets. Later, she worked as an upholstery sewer at Drexel Heritage Furniture. She was also employed by the Hartzell, Wasmer and Gayle families for several years, who were considered as close families. Willie Mae continued to be a lifelong member of Temple and was a member of the Richard Nixon Ensemble, where she enjoyed singing songs of worship with the choir, sometimes singing the lead to some of her favorite songs. She was also a member of the Missionary Board and volunteered in several capacities where she would be needed. She truly loved her church family.

She enjoyed bus trips with friends to Atlantic City and Cherokee and playing bingo. At an early age, she was the biscuit maker of Cassell and W. Willis Streets. She enjoyed baking sweet potato pies, homemade biscuits and cooking for friends and family. She would often get sweet potatoes and collard greens for her friends and would help anyone who was selling anything from Girl Scout Cookies to raffle tickets. Willie Mae also loved her Biltmore Avenue neighbors and would collect funds for cards and flowers for those who lost loved ones.

She is survived by daughters, Eljuana Deneen Barrier of Raleigh, NC and Angela Yvette Barrier of Thomasville, NC; three grandchildren, Branden Marcellus Barrier, Devin Michael Barrier of High Point, NC and Ashley Michelle Barrier of Greensboro, NC; seven great-grandchildren, Bradley, Branden Jr. (BJ), Nevaeh, Desire, Kehlani, Dayla, and Deon; brothers, Larry Clark (Monica) Rucker, Sr. of Stone Mountain, GA, Sylvester (Emma) Rucker of High Point, NC; sisters-in-law, Christine Barrier of Modesto, CA, Delores Davis of Selma, AL, and Marlene Dyke of High Point, NC; and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, other relatives, and tremendous friends. We wish to thank David Bogans, Carolyn Boyd, Amanda Gibson, Jackie Cobb, Leslie Dean, Faye McAuley, Fannie Buxton, Beatrice Montague, and many others who cared for Willie Mae.

Funeral service will be held Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. at Temple Memorial Baptist Church,1458 Cedrow Dr., High Point, NC. Interment will follow at Carolina Biblical Gardens. The family will receive friends at the church from 11:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.

Final arrangements are entrusted to Phillips Funeral Service, Inc.