Mary "Ms. Mary" Barrett was born in New York. In later years, she moved to Greene County, Tennessee, from Pennsylvania to be close to her nephew, Gurnee Barrett. Ms. Mary loved traveling, camping and writing and was an accomplished artist. In November 2013, Ms. Mary completed a book containing poems and stories about her travels abroad and her life titled, "Upon Reflection". Ms. Mary wrote the following as a biography of herself:
"I graduated from school, an Art Major, while living in a small community within the Hudson River Valley of New York City. After working three years at a local telephone company I moved up state to Woodstock to become an apprentice to the Village Frame Maker and an art gallery assistant. While at the gallery one afternoon I was introduced to a widowed English lady in need of a traveling companion. A few months later I accompanied her to Thailand (then known as Siam) as her secretary, later to England and to Spain. Between trips I had a picture framing shop while continuing to create assemblages and drawings, worked in the art galleries and volunteered at a health related facility assisting those with disabilities."
Ms. Mary is a member of Union Temple Freewill Baptist Church and attended as long as her health permitted. She strongly supported the Northern Greene County United In Love Ministry and especially enjoyed being hostess to those that came into the church for the Thanksgiving meal.
Ms.Mary is survived by her nephew, Gurnee H. Barrett lll and two nieces, Victoria Yauch Zalegowski and Catherine Barrett Cornwall whom she loved dearly, plus four grand nieces and nephews and four great great nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents Helen Yauch and Gurnee H. Barrett and brother G. Hinman Barrett Jr.
A memorial service will be held a Union Temple Freewill Baptist Church Sunday, August 3, 2014 with visitation 11:00 am - 2:00 pm and funeral service at 2:00 pm performed by Rev. Oscar McAmis. Burial will take place in New York at a later date.
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