Mary Ellen Barnwell

Mary Ellen Barnwell, 97, died peacefully with her family around her on November 10, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida at Community Hospice of Northeast Florida. Born Sept 14, 1919 in Bradley Junction, Florida, she dedicated her life raising 4 children and loving 9 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. She graduated salutatorian from Lee High School in Jacksonville. She was a founding member of Ocean Roads Methodist Church and member of Mandarin Memorial Methodist Church.

The Matriarch of her family, she was “the quintessence of a strong woman. As a Grandmother she was one of a kind. A multi-talented women, her home was remembered as, “a wonder land!! She raised a pet monkey and a horse. She could sew ANYTHING! Underwear, bathing suits, Villager dresses without even using a pattern.

All her grandchildren expressed their loss as they remembered her. “She was a beauty... and she knew it. Her eyes sparkled crystal clear blue and her smile melted the hearts of many. She was strong, extremely smart, spunky, funny, hardworking, devoted, stubborn as a mule… and utterly lovable. She was an individual, and changed for no one, caring not what others thought. She was authentic, real, true to herself and she always told you how she really felt.

Her Grandchildren went on to say, “She loved to touch people, anybody she could get her hands on; family, friends or strangers, it didn’t matter. She was always hugging, patting, pinching or grabbing anything within reach, appropriate or not. People loved her. She made friends everywhere, encompassing a gift to make others feel good about themselves. Truly special.

Tracy her oldest granddaughter remembered her teaching her to knit and sew and cook a scrambled egg and make blackberry jam and said of her ‘’she was smart, impatient, hilarious, a frustrating force of nature for everyone around her.” She took all her grandchildren to a million garage sales and bought a book at every one. A role model, a hero, a friend, she made her grandchildren feel unconditionally loved. Sharp as a tack till the end, an absolute legend, she was strong, kind, smart, and funny… ‘a woman to look up to and cherish.’ ‘When she left us we gained another set of angel eyes to watch over our family!’

Mary Ellen was predeceased by her father Clem Walters, her mother Gertrude Alice McKay, stepfather, Leslie Brydon McKay, husband Thomas P. Barnwell, Jr., sister Anne Grace Hendricks and brother Leslie Brydon “Buddy” McKay Jr. and her son Timothy Scott Barnwell. She is survived by her children Dr. Thomas P. Barnwell, III, Lois Shannon Andersen, and Melissa Kay Taylor

A memorial will be held at Green Lawn Cemetery in Jacksonville, on December 29, 2016 at 10:00AM.

Mary Ellen Barnwell, September 14, 1919 to November 10, 2016.

"But now we see those wandering curls hang careless 'round their brow,They say to us my Papa's dead,I have no mother now."So long Mom.

Arrangements are under the direction of Hardage-Giddens Greenlawn Funeral Home and Cemetery.

Please offer condolences at www.greenlawnjacksonville.com