Mertie Lou Fourmy Barnes' Obituary
Mertie Lou Fourmy Barnes, 97, died in Covington on May 23, 2012. She was born November 5th, 1914 in Chattanooga Tennessee to Mertie Camilla Dameron Fourmy and James McCardell Fourmy of Hammond. She was the great granddaughter of Charles Emery Cate, a founder of Hammond. She is survived by her daughters, Mertie Huson Barnes Miller of Baton Rouge and Suzanne Huson Barnes Graham of Covington, her son-in-law John Joseph Graham, nine grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, her brother James McCardell Fourmy, Jr. of Hammond, her first husband, Roland Wilmer Huson, from whom she was divorced, and her second husband, Harold John Barnes of Chicago.
She will be remembered by all who knew her for the tremendous love she had for life, the steadfast devotion she showered on her family and friends and the patriotic spirit she felt for her country. Her lifelong love of history and her spirit of volunteerism for which she was often honored for her many endeavors were her life's passion. During World War II she worked at the U. S. Rationing Board and the American Red Cross. After the War, she moved with her husband and young daughters to Park Forest, Illinois, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Cazenovia, New York while her husband finished his education and was transferred with his work. She helped establish an Episcopal mission in Park Forest, a village built for returning veterans, also helping to establish the first school there. Returning to Louisiana, she worked tirelessly to keep alive the history of her home town. The Hammond Historic district Commission bestowed an Honorary Lifetime Membership upon her for her work in establishing the Hammond Historic District. She was instrumental in saving Magnolia Mound Plantation (Baton Rouge) from demolition, having it restored and placed on the National Historic Register. Similarly, she successfully researched and helped to have Grace Memorial Episcopal Church in Hammond placed on the National Historic Register, a church consecrated as a memorial to her great grandmother, Mertie Waterman Cate. She was a member of the Louisiana Landmark Society, the Louisiana Historical Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, the Society of Mayflower Descendents and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
A memorial service in her honor will be held at Grace Memorial Episcopal Church, 100 W. Church St. Hammond, Louisiana 70401 on Saturday, May, 26, 2012.
Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM; service at 11:00 AM.
Interment at Grace Memorial Cemetery will immediately follow the service.
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