Mary Carolyn Bullington

Mary Carolyn Ingle Bennett Bullington, lovingly known as Carolyn, passed away on Monday, January 5, 2026, at the age of 88, surrounded by family and prayers. She was living in Carrollton, Georgia, at the time of her passing.

Carolyn was born on July 25, 1937, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, one of seven children born to Herman Franklin Ingle and Margaret Marie Posey Ingle. She grew up in downtown Chattanooga and graduated from Chattanooga Central High School. On Christmas Day in 1954, she married James Robert “Bob” Bennett. They shared 36½ years of marriage before Bob’s passing in June 1991. In 1959, they built a home on Bennie (formerly Bennett) Lane in Ooltewah, Tennessee, where they raised their three children.

On September 19, 1993, Carolyn married Robert Mac Bullington. Together they enjoyed a wonderful life centered around church, family, camping, fishing, and many volunteer activities. Their time together was filled with love, faith, and service to others until Robert’s passing on April 1, 2005.

Throughout her life, Carolyn worked hard and served others. In the 1960s, she worked at the Piggly Wiggly in East Brainerd and later at the Crane Company in Chattanooga. In 1971, she and Bob purchased the Trading Post Restaurant at the corner of Ooltewah-Ringgold Road, which they ran until 1976. After selling the restaurant, Carolyn worked briefly at McKee Foods before finding her long-term calling as church secretary at Ooltewah United Methodist Church, where she served faithfully for many years.

Carolyn had a deep love for the Lord and her church family. In her later years, she enjoyed traveling with friends through the Scenic City travel group and giving back through volunteer work at Parkridge Hospital.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, James Robert “Bob” Bennett and Robert Mac Bullington; her sister, Audrey Jean Ingle Wade; and her brothers, Thomas “Tommy” Nelson Ingle, Joseph Douglas Ingle, and Johnnie Lee Ingle.

Carolyn is survived by her children, Cathy Beaumont (Glenn), William “Bill” Bennett (Donna), and James “Jim” Bennett (Lori); her sister, Frankie Ingle Hyma; her brother, Wayne Ingle; eight grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren.

Carolyn will be deeply missed by her family, extended relatives, and the many friends she made throughout her life in Ooltewah, Tennessee, and Carrollton, Georgia.

The family will receive friends on Friday, January 9, 2026, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at Chattanooga Funeral Home – Valley View Chapel, 7414 Old Lee Highway, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 1:00 PM at the Valley View Chapel, with the service officiated by Dale Gilbert, retired pastor of Ooltewah United Methodist Church.

Honorary pallbearers will be Josh Bennett, Eric Bennett, Mike Estes, Buddy Beaumont, Bobby Beaumont, Chad Carlson, Matt Sherwood, and Jonathan Merrey.

A private interment will take place on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Lakeview Memory Gardens East in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Ooltewah United Methodist Church, 6131 Relocation Way, Ooltewah, TN 37363.

Please share your thoughts and memories online at www.ChattanoogaValleyViewChapel.com.

Arrangements by Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, Valley View Chapel, 7414 Old Lee Highway, Chattanooga, TN 37421.