Mary Lucille Barnes Pinkerton
Mary Lucille Barnes Pinkerton was born on January 21, 1927, in Harrison, Tennessee. She died peacefully on August 2, 2025 in Sun City, Florida at the incredible age of 98.
She was a mischievous daddy’s girl, who often had to rely on her sister Vinnie to help her smooth things over with her Mama. She had an alter ego as Margaret Banks when playing house. Her mother was often heard asking, "What are you sneaking around doin' now?" She loved fried Chicken, fried corn, and corn bread. At age 16 she moved to Chattanooga, and attended Central High School as a member of their 1946 graduating class.
Upon graduation, she began working at Patton Food for $21 a week. At 18, she became a data processing clerk at Railway Express Agency where she worked for 29 years. She went on to work at Southwest Motor Freight/ US Express for the next 21 years. She enjoyed her little part time jobs at Holder’s Restaurant, Woolworths, Robert Hall Clothing, and Sandra’s “Art Gallery”. She retired at age 70. She loved taking Ballroom Dancing classes with her friends and attended weekly dances at the Barn. She received immense pleasure in traveling with those friends and playing weekly Rook games with her sister-Vinnie, friends, and family. She was a longtime resident in Chattanooga, Tennessee where she attended East Ridge Baptist Church/Cross Path Church. She has lived her last seven years of life in Sun City, Fl.
She enjoyed her family and three children. She was preceded in death by parents,-James William Barnes and Mildred Ethel Steele Barnes Jackson, her daughter-Sandra Pinkerton Eaves, her grandson- Nicholas Edward Pinkerton, and her sister-Sarah Lavina Steele (Lewis).
She is survived by her son, James Edward Pinkerton (Elaine), daughter-Janet Pinkerton O’Grady, six grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. She loved to see them well fed. She always made sure they had plenty of candy and fudge to enjoy on their visits. Her wish for all of them was, "I want them to be good and lead Christian lives. I want them to go to Heaven with me but not at the same time!"
A visitation for Mary will be held on Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Chattanooga Funeral Home East Chapel, 404
South
Moore
Road from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Funeral services will follow at 12 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Benjamin NeSmith officiating.
There will be a burial to follow at Chattanooga Memorial Park in Chattanooga.
Mary Lucille Barnes Pinkerton