Rock Hill, SC – Mary Anne Graves Barnes completed her earthly journey on October 19, 2024, when she was reunited with her husband, Frank Sanders Barnes, Jr., and their daughter, Anne Iverson Barnes Grant. Mary Anne was born June 16, 1926 in Rome, Georgia to Charles Bryant Graves and Emmie Luetje Graves. Most of her childhood was spent in Whitmire, S.C. She attended and graduated from Converse College, and following graduation, she worked for the Honorable Robert W. Hayes, Sr., York County S.C. Family Court Judge. In 1950, she married Frank Sanders Barnes, Jr., and they were well known in the Rock Hill community and surrounding areas. In addition to surviving her husband and daughter, Mary Anne was predeceased by her parents and her only sibling, Charles Bryant “Begie” Graves, Jr.
Mary Anne and Frank were the devoted parents of Frank Sanders “Sandy” Barnes, III (Kathy); Bryant Graves Barnes (Lynn); Anne Iverson Barnes Grant (Larry); and Mary Lea Barnes Taylor (Mike). She was “Mimi” to her twelve grandchildren and twenty-one great grandchildren.
Mary Anne was witty, outgoing, and the quintessential Southern lady. She put everyone at ease with her kindness and considerate nature, and she loved having fun with her family and friends. She stayed busy, active in the Rock Hill Debutante Club and the Junior Welfare League, and serving as a Pink Lady at Piedmont Hospital, as well as a “Church Mouse” at Westminster Presbyterian Church. She and her husband were charter members of that Church. Fripp Island was the setting for many wonderful memories: family time, golfing, fishing and walks on the beach. Wherever she was, she was a giving, caring and loving daughter, wife, sister, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.
The last few years of Mary Anne’s long life were spent in her home in the company of her loved ones and caregivers. She continued to enjoy her family and watching Clemson football. When she could no longer physically attend the games, she was able to encourage the Tigers from home. It seems fitting that her last hours were spent watching the Tigers with her son, Sandy: the Tigers won, and Heaven welcomed Mary Anne home.
A memorial service celebrating Mary Anne’s life will be held on Friday, October 25, 2024 at 11:00 am at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1320 India Hook Road, Rock Hill, SC 29732. Visitation will follow the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, if you would like to honor Mary Anne’s life, please do so by supporting her alma mater, Converse University, 580 E. Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302; Samaritan’s Purse at http://www.samaritanspurse.org or the Wounded Warriors Project at https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org.