WAKE FOREST, NC — On the evening of March 22, 2016, Michelle Simone Barlow passed away suddenly due to injuries sustained when her vehicle was rear-ended by a dump truck on Capitol Blvd in Wake Forest, N.C.  Michelle was returning from a teacher’s workshop at the Wake County Public School System central office in Cary. Michelle, having just been named the intervention coordinator at Wake Forest High School, attended this workshop to help develop a plan to support struggling students. She was 42 years old. 

Michelle Lynn Simone was born on June 3, 1973 at Kent County Memorial Hospital in Warwick, R.I. She is the second born, and only daughter of Lynn E. Simone and Donald V. Simone of Smithfield.

Michelle’s life was one that could best be described as both loving and serving. Whether in her home, classroom, church or community, she lived in such a way that made a great impact on the lives of everyone everywhere. Her love for teaching, though great as it was, would always be second to the love she had for the students themselves. Her desire was to meet each student’s needs right where they were, while always placing the greater value on the heart of the student and the development of their truest potential. Those that knew Michelle knew of her love of cooking and fellowship around the table with family, friends and students. This act of loving service along with her nurturing lifestyle is what earned her the name “Ma” as well as many new sons and daughters. Michelle cared deeply as well for her family, friends, co-workers and community, always placing the lives of others before her own in sacrificial acts of service. This “fruit” of Michelle’s life is a testimony to her unashamed and unwavering faith that is planted firmly in her loving Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Michelle is preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Domenic and Alice Simone of Coventry, R.I., and maternal grandparents, Clayton and Flo Griscom of Philadelphia, Penn.

Michelle is survived by her husband, Michael Craig Barlow; her two children, Rhett Michael and Vanessa Renee Barlow; her parents Donald V. and Lynn E. Simone; and her brother, Anthony Lee Simone and his family. She will also be greatly missed by extended family, church family, co-workers, students and friends worldwide.

There will be a life celebration service for Michelle in Virginia on Wednesday March 30 at 1 p.m. in the gymnasium at Franklin High School in Franklin, as well as a second service in North Carolina on Friday, April 1, at 3 p.m. in Binkley Chapel on the campus of South Eastern Baptist Theology Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C.

Instead of flowers, donations can be made to World Vision. This is a charity that the Barlow family has been supporting continually for more than 10 years in the hopes to see an end to global hunger. Donations can also be made for use in local needs to Restoration Church in Wake Forest, NC in honor of Michelle.

A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 S. Main St., Wake Forest, N.C. (919) 556-5811.  www.brightfunerals.com