Mary Wright Barnes

MARY WRIGHT BARNES died on November 28, 2006. She was 91. Born April 9, 1915, in Aberdeen, she was the daughter of the late C. Milton and Bertha Martin Wright. As a toddler, she moved to Bel Air when her father was appointed Superintendent of Schools for Harford County. She was a graduate of Bel Air High School, Towson State Teachers College, and Johns Hopkins University. She taught elementary school in Baltimore City before starting her teaching career in Harford County. As an employee of Harford County Public Schools, she taught second grade at the Edgewood Arsenal School before moving to Churchville Elementary School in 1940. There, she taught second grade for 33 years. Mary joined Delta Kappa Gamma, an honorary society for teachers, in 1937, and was a lifelong member.

Mary was an active member in the First Presbyterian Church of Bel Air for 78 years. While in high school, she began teaching Sunday School and eventually became head of the Primary Department for the Church’s Sunday School education program. Mary held this position for 25 years. In 2003, she was recognized by the congregation of the church as the longest, actively participating member.

In the early 1960s, Mary assisted her father with the writing of his book, Our Harford Heritage, a history of Harford County which was published in 1967. In 1980, she updated the history and published a revised edition.

Upon her retirement from Harford County Public Schools in 1973, she began her association with the Steppingstone Museum. Mary worked at Steppingstone for over 20 years. She served as a Director for 8 years and was also recognized as their Volunteer of the Year in 1993, having worked to develop and implement their archival system for all
the artifacts contained in the Museum. Mary was also instrumental in the development of the Archives of the Harford County Historical Society. She was recognized by the Harford County Preservation Commission with a 2002 Honor Preservationist Award for her work in establishing the Harford County Historical Society’s Archives and again in 2006 with a Lifetime Preservationist Honor Award.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Barnes was predeceased by her husband, Richard A. Barnes, to whom she was married in 1986.

She is survived by a sister, Elizabeth Wright Preston and her husband, Donald, of Glen Arm, MD; a nephew, Robert Milton Preston and his wife, Susan, of Bel Air; several nieces, Marcia Leigh Zbikowski and her husband, Joel, of Forest Hill, MD, Ann Garrett Ragan and her husband, Danny, of Darlington, MD, Lauren Preston Andrews and her husband, Robert, of Bel Air, MD; seven great-nephews, four great-nieces, one great-great nephew, and three great-great nieces.

Pallbearers will be Robert Milton Preston, Jr., Garrett Christopher Ragan, Bryan Wright Zbikowski, Carroll Francis Hopkins III, Andrew Garrison Ragan, and Kevin Patrick Bond.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 224 North Main St., Bel Air, MD 21014 or the Historical Society of Harford County, 143 North Main St., Bel Air, MD 21014.