Mary Helen Barber, long-time educator and resident of Centerville, passed away peacefully after a long illness on May 17, 2019. She was 90.

Mary Helen was born on November 9, 1928, in Linden, to Kinchen William and Edna Hinson Barber. She graduated from Perry County High School in 1947, and later earned her Bachelor of Science in 1958 and Master of Arts in Education in 1975 from Austin Peay State University. She loved children and turned that passion into a 46-year career, first as a classroom teacher and later as a librarian, for the Hickman County Independent School District. She was an active member in several community service organizations, holding leadership positions in the Centerville Womans Club and Hickman County Chrysanthemum Society. She also served in a number of educational organizations and was a member of the Centerville Church of Christ for more than 50 years. Mary Helen had a gift for cooking, taking great pride in serving others and always looking for the next best recipe from the numerous cookbooks she collected over the years. She also loved to sew, quilt, crochet and embroider-handwork she generously shared with family and friends.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by two brothers, James Levi Barber and Guy Villous Barber, and four sisters including Ruth Louise Barber, Gusta Jane McKee, Grace Frank and Nora Aline Ellis.

She leaves behind loving nieces and nephews, devoted extended family and many throughout her community that were honored to call her friend.

A visitation will be held from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Saturday, May 25, 2019 at McDonald Funeral Home, Inc., 102 West End Avenue, Centerville, Tennessee. A funeral service will take place at 1:00 PM on Saturday, May 25, 2019, at McDonald Funeral Home, Inc., followed by burial in Downey Cemetery in Hohenwald, Tennessee.