If you’ve ever driven around Waxhaw, taken in the sights of our historic downtown or stopped to enjoy one of our local parks, you have almost certainly traveled the same paths as the late Commissioner David G. Barnes.
It’s safe to assume that anyone who has spent time in Waxhaw has felt his impact on our town. For 28 years, he led Waxhaw through a period of growth and revitalization that laid the foundations for the vibrant community each of our residents, businesses and visitors enjoy today. For 28 years, he was known as Mr. Barnes, or “Mr. B,” to the hundreds of 4th-graders he taught in Waxhaw Elementary School.
But beyond his resume, David Barnes’ legacy reaches every corner of our community. From his time walking the old wooden hallways of Waxhaw Elementary, flipping his keys around his finger, to his time driving kids and families to summer camps and church events at First Presbyterian Church, when David moved through Waxhaw, he found a way to reach people and leave a positive impact.
Starting in 1972, “Mr. B” shared his creativity, compassion and passion for education with generations of students in Waxhaw Elementary. His students enjoyed his flair for crafts, stories, and experiential learning throughout his career. As those students became parents, their children and, sometimes, grandchildren also enjoyed that same compassion and creativity that Barnes brought to his classroom.
In 1979, Barnes was elected to Waxhaw’s Board of Commissioners and served for 28 consecutive years, guiding town policies and listening to residents in every neighborhood about their visions, concerns and priorities for Waxhaw. His love for the community is best explained by his favorite description for Waxhaw: “the quaint little town where everyone knew one another.”
Throughout his career on the Board of Commissioners, Barnes was instrumental in reconstructing the Downtown Pedestrian Bridge, the dedication of the Harvey Clay Nesbitt Park and many other neighborhood and utility capital projects. His family shared with the Town of Waxhaw that his proudest accomplishment was bringing people together to “grow Waxhaw the right way.”
In 2008, the Town of Waxhaw honored his service with a dedication of the downtown children’s park in his name. As a lifelong educator, community leader, avid runner and proud gardener, the David G. Barnes Children’s Park celebrates Barnes’ passions and commemorates his impact on our community.
Barnes will be remembered as an educator, leader, storyteller, elder, encourager, convener, and more. Most importantly, he should be recognized as exemplifying what it means to be Waxhaw.
