ST. TAMMANY PARISH, LA. 

Obituary for: BARNES, MERTIE LOU FOURMY 

Submitted by: Louis Lavedan. 

Source: E.J. Fielding Funeral Home, Covington, La.

Died Wednesday, May 23, 2012

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BARNES, MERTIE LOU FOURMY 
(November 5, 1914 - May 23, 2012)

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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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