Obituary of Mary Kinney

Mrs. Mary Middlebrooks Voelker Kinney, one of Barnesville’s oldest and most beloved residents died at home on April 27, 2009. Born March 27, 1910, Mary and her brother, John T., Jr. grew up in the house built on Thomaston Street by her parents, John T., Sr. and Roberta Mitchell Middlebrooks. After Gordon Institute, she graduated from the Georgia State Teachers College and began her long career as a teacher of public school music and elementary education. Hundreds of Barnesville’s citizens of today were positively influenced by the learning experiences gained in Mrs. Kinney’s classroom. One of her joys in later years came from visits by former students and notes of their successes. Mary sang in the church choir, taught adult Sunday School at First Baptist and Pine View Baptist Churches and was active in Delta Kappa Gamma and D.A.R. organizations. In 1937, Mary married Helmut Voelker in Thomaston, GA where they lived until his death. In 1947 she returned to Barnesville and later married Frank D. Kinney of Macon. Mary’s greatest devotion was to her family and she remained interested and involved in the lives of her extended family throughout her life. She is survived by her daughters, Lynn Voelker Warren of Monroe, & Margaret Voelker Pritchett, and her husband, John of Florence, SC; by her Son, Carl Voelker, and his wife, Simone, of Seabrook Island, SC, Step-son - Calder Kinney, and his wife, Bobbie of St. Simons, eleven grandchildren, nineteen great grandchildren, and seven great great grandchildren. She was an inspiration to them all and will be greatly missed. Memorial Services for Mrs. Mary Kinney will be conducted Saturday, May 2, 2009 at 2 O’Clock in the Chapel of Williams Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at the Kinney residence on Friday, May 1, 2009 from 7pm until 9pm. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that Memorial Contributions be made to the Barnesville-Lamar County Library. Williams Funeral Home of Barnesville is in charge of arrangements. (770) 358-1678