Mary Ann Hynds

Mrs. Mary Ann Hynds, of Athens, whose careers included broadcasting, teaching, real estate, and homemaking, died Monday, May 7 after a long struggle with diabetes, neuropathy, and Alzheimer’s Disease. She was 83 years old.

Mrs. Hynds was born November 25, 1928, in Columbus, Ga., to Walter H. and Dovie D. Jaynes and moved with the family to Atlanta while she was still young. She was educated in the Atlanta public schools, at Vanderbilt University, and at Agnes Scott College where she transferred as a junior to participate in a joint enrollment program in journalism with Emory University.

After graduation, Mrs. Hynds worked at WSB Radio Station in Atlanta for several years, taught school in Monroe and Athens, and sold real estate with Bill Fleeman and later Ann Woodruff Century 21 in Athens.

She was married June 6, 1953, in Atlanta to Ernest C. Hynds, and they subsequently had two children, Ernest Jefferson (Jeff) Hynds and Mark. H. Hynds. Dr. Hynds was a long-time faculty member in the College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.

Mrs. Hynds was active in First Baptist Church in Athens for many years, and was one of the first women elected to the board of deacons after membership was opened to all adults in the church in the late 1970s. She taught Sunday School for more than fifty years, served on numerous committees, and served several times as president of the Women’s Missionary Union at the church. The church history published in 2011 was dedicated to her. It reads in part, "Mrs. Hynds is one of those loving, dedicated Christians whose lives exemplify who First Baptist is and who it aspires to become."

In the broader community, Mrs. Hynds served a number of terms as president of the Dogwood Garden Club of Homewood Hills, served for a number of years as a docent at the Georgia Museum of Art, and participated in various volunteer programs. Survivors include her husband, sons, daughters-in law Mrs Angela Hynds and Mrs., Cindy Hynds, and granddaughter Dovie Anne Hynds.

Funeral Services will be held at First Baptist, Athens, at 3 p.m. on Thursday, with Dr. Paul Baxley, senior minister, in charge. He will be assisted by the Rev. Frank Granger, minister of education. The family will receive visitors in the church at 2 p.m. and interment will follow the services in Evergreen Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Hospice House, P.O. Box 6588, Athens, GA 30604.

Online condolences may be offered at www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com

Bernstein Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.