Name: Visitation for Claudia Deese
Start: 2026-03-15T13:30:00.000Z
End: 2026-03-15T14:45:00.000Z
Location: Cumby Family Funeral Service - High Point

Claudia Louise Barnes Deese left this life and entered into the arms of her Lord and Savior in the early hours of March 11, 2026.

Claudia was born in Reidsville, NC, to William Clarence and Nellie Moore Barnes. After graduating from Reidsville High School, she attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1960. Claudia went on to obtain a Masters Degree in Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill and became a public health nurse with the Guilford County Health Department. In 1968, she married Gary Bennett Deese, Sr. and continued to work in public health nursing and eventually joined the Faculty of the School of Nursing at UNC-Greensboro teaching public health. She was a devoted wife and mother to her two children, Deanne and Bennett. She enjoyed traveling, being with family and various church activities. She was a Tarheel fan and her favorite color was always Carolina blue! A devoted follower of Jesus, she lived out the message of the gospel in her words and actions. She was a member of Hayworth Wesleyan Church as well as the Auxiliary of The Gideons International. After her career in public health, she served as the financial manager for Home Detective Company. After retirement, she enjoyed time with her beloved family and grandchildren. She especially enjoyed time at her home away from home, "The Alpine Escape" in Seven Devils, NC and annually vacationing at the Outer Banks with her children and grandchildren. She loved animals and especially her beloved peekaboo, Jackson. She was a good friend to many, including those at Harmony at Greensboro, where she has made her home since 2022.

Claudia is preceded in death by her parents and sister, Bernice. She is survived by her loving husband, Gary Deese of Greensboro; daughter Deanne Deese Trollinger and son-in-law Jeff of Winston Salem; son Bennett Deese and daughter-in-law Kara of High Point; grandchildren Abbie Trollinger of Winston Salem, Sara Kent Donnalley and Matthew of Charlotte, Chandler Deese, Josiah Deese and Garrison Deese of High Point; sister Beverly Barnes Haynes and brother-in-law Carl of Kinston and their children and grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 15th, at Cumby Family Funeral Service in High Point with Rev. Brian Matherlee and Rev. David Emery officiating. The family will receive guests prior to the service, from 1:30 - 2:45 p.m., at the funeral home. A live webcast will be accessible through her memorial page at www.cumbyfuneral.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to The Gideons International at www.gideons.org.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Greensboro News & Record on Mar. 14, 2026.