August 21, 2026, 66, Seven Springs – Vernon Richard Bartlett, 66, of Seven Springs, passed away Friday, August 21, 2026, at Wayne Memorial Hospital.
Vernon was preceded in death by his parents, James Richard Bartlett and Mildred Christine Creech Bartlett.
Vern was lucky enough to find love twice. Once with his wife, Vickie who pre-deceased him and again with Debbie Gallimore, his current partner; his daughter, Candace Humphrey; grandchildren, Trinity Arocha and Dominic Arocha (Elaena Romero); brothers, Eddie Lewis Bartlett and Chester Franklin Bartlett (Karen “Kippy” Bartlett); and aunt, Eunice Carpenter. He also leaves behind a whole lot of people who loved him, depended on him, and laughed with him.
Vernon was an active member of Goldsboro Friends Meeting and was, in every sense of the phrase, a jack of all trades. If something needed fixing, building, moving, cutting down, hauling off, or just figuring out, Vernon was probably already working on it—or had a plan for how to do it.
He had a particular talent for taking down trees, and he was equally talented at finding abandoned buckets along the highway or wherever else they happened to turn up. While most people would see an old bucket and keep driving, Vernon saw an opportunity. He believed every bucket deserved a second chance, and he was more than willing to provide it with a good home.
Vernon was an entrepreneur, a hard worker, a jokester, and a man with a sense of humor that could keep people laughing. He never met a stranger he wouldn’t help, and more often than not, he helped people without expecting anything in return. If someone needed a hand, Vernon was there. If someone needed something fixed, he would give it a try. And if someone needed a laugh, he was probably already working on that, too.
To his granddaughter, Trinity, Vernon was fearless and indestructible, the kind of grandfather who seemed like nothing in this world could possibly slow him down. To his family, he was so much more: a father, grandfather, brother, uncle, partner, and friend whose presence could fill a room.
Vernon lived life in his own unmistakable way. He collected buckets, took down trees, helped people, made jokes, worked hard, loved deeply, and left things—and people—better than he found them.
A graveside service will be held Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Pineview Cemetery of Seven Springs, with Rev. Tim Grant officiating.
Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Bartlett family. Online condolences may be directed to the family through the funeral home’s website.
Comments