Crossville, TN - Funeral service for Mary Jane Barnes, 79, of Crossville, will be held at Bilbrey Funeral Home on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at 7 p.m. Family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will take place at East Tennessee State Veteran's Cemetery on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, at 10 a.m. EST.

Biography by Mary Jane Barnes:

I was born Mary Jane Mackey on Sept. 22, 1946 in Wooster, OH, the daughter of Richard Dale Mackey and Ruth Elizabeth (Mangle) Mackey. I'm the oldest of five siblings, three brothers, Robert Dale Mackey, Shreve, OH; Howard Larry Mackey, Sparta, TN; and Rickey Dean Mackey, of Crossville; and one sister, Becky Jo (Mackey) Vinson, Cookville.

My family moved to Orlando, FL in July 1958. That is where I met and married Robert Randolph Matthews on Sept. 18, 1963. We moved to Clarkrange, TN in June 1964. Our son, Jeffrey Thomas Matthews, was born July 18, 1964 in Jamestown, TN. January 1969 we moved to Crossville to the Homesteads area. June 1972 Robert and I were divorced. I earned my GED in June 1970 from Cumberland County High School in Crossville. I remained single working numerous jobs at Roselone Southern, quality control; First National Bank, teller; John Legare Construction Co., receptionist; Brown Insurance Group, receptionist; Roane State Community College, lead custodian; and South Cumberland Elementary School, receptionist. I have numerous certificates of training in office skills.

I met JD Barnes and after eight years of courtship, I finally said yes to his marriage proposal. We were married Sept. 3, 1996, and made our home in Holiday Hills, Crossville. I have four step-children, Fonda White, Gordonsville, TN, Diana Chester, Nashville, TN, Deborah Rhyne, Statesville, NC and Joseph Barnes, Nashville, TN.

I have two grandsons Jeffrey Thomas (Matthews) Pettit and George Allen (Matthews) Pettit, both make their home in Millville, NJ. I have one granddaughter, Tiffany Paige Matthews, of Seneca, SC. I also have a set of surrogate twins, grandchildren, Jessica Elizabeth Pettit and Samuel Elliot Pettit both of Millville, NJ. I have one great-grandson Micheal Pettit, son of Jeffrey Pettit, Millville, NJ. Numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

I have a passion for working in my flower gardens, going to movies, hiking on some of the most beautiful trails in Tennessee, love of country music and being a UT Football fan, and UT Women's Basketball fan "Go Vols" and working on special projects in my church.

I have a special place in my heart for all the dogs, cats and horse that have been in my life. I will see them again at the rainbow bridge.

Last but not least the love of my church family at Oak Hill Baptist Church in Crossville. I thank God every day for my life here on earth and the time I will be with him in Heaven.

Love and God bless, Mary Jane Barnes.