William Austin Barbee's Obituary
William Austin Barbee, 26, of Huntersville died May 3, 2023. Austin (also known to friends as “Barbee”) was born in Charlotte, NC on February 7, 1997, to Andy and Kim Barbee.
Austin went to Cox Mill Elementary, Harris Road Middle School, and Jay M. Robinson High School in Concord, NC. He was a great student, and especially enjoyed creative writing, foreign languages (Spanish and German), and chemistry. Austin participated in Cub Scouts in elementary school, School of Rock and the West Cabarrus YMCA Blue Dolphin Swim Team in middle school, and marching band and the Concord Youth Council in high school. He graduated from Jay M. Robinson in May 2015.
Austin decided to take time off before going to college. During that time, he enrolled in classes at Central Piedmont Community College, and earned a scholarship to study abroad for a summer in Heidelberg, Germany. He also took classes at Johnson & Wales University in their Baking & Pastry program.
Anyone who spent time with Austin knew he loved to cook and had a special fondness for baking. At one point, he worked part-time at Great Harvest Bread Company. Austin learned to bake bread and enjoyed the opportunity to sample all the sweets. At home, he was always trying new recipes and, among other things, made fantastic deep-dish pizza and focaccia bread. Austin loved to eat at new restaurants and experience different cuisines. He was the ultimate foodie!
During the past few years, Austin worked at Starbucks and was a cook in several Charlotte-area restaurants. If you have eaten at Mellow Mushroom, Futo Buta, or Hathaway’s Fried Chicken, he may have made your meal.
Austin’s other interests included sports, music, and hiking. His favorite teams were Borussia Dortmund Soccer (Germany), University of Missouri, “Mizzou,” football, and Saint Louis Cardinals baseball. Austin also had a wicked sense of humor. His accents and impersonations were spot on and made everyone laugh.
In addition to his parents, Andy and Kim, survivors include his sister, Caroline Barbee and her husband Gary “Carter” Rogers. The family plans to hold a private service in the near future to honor their beloved son and brother.
In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness).
James Funeral Home of Huntersville is serving the family.
What’s your fondest memory of William?
What’s a lesson you learned from William?
Share a story where William's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with William you’ll never forget.
How did William make you smile?