Mary Frances Brinkley

mary brinkley

August 28, 1929 ~ January 23, 2025

Born in: Burnsville, NC
Resided in: North Port, AL

Frances Riddle Brinkley, 95 (August 27, 1929 – January 23, 2025), died peacefully on Thursday January 23, 2025 in Northport, Alabama. Frances was the daughter of Thomas Kelse and Mary Lucindia Wilson Riddle of Burnsville, NC. She grew up in the North Carolina mountain community of Burnsville. Frances met her future husband, John David Brinkley, in high school and they were married for 67 years. They lived in Asheville, North Carolina for the majority of 50+ years except for a two year period during the Korean war era when they lived in Hawaii. After her husband’s military service they returned to their beloved mountains.

She was a member of Cumberland Avenue Baptist Church, Merrimon Avenue Baptist Church and later West Asheville Baptist Church. She was very active in the church’s shut-in ministry for many years. Frances worked at Conrad Industries and retired in 1994 to enjoy more time painting, flower gardening and serving her family and neighbors. In 2004, she and John moved to Mebane, North Carolina to be closer to their son. Frances moved to Northport, Alabama in 2019 to live with her daughter and remained there for the rest of her life.

Frances was preceded in death by her husband John and is survived by two children, Debora Pinkleton of Northport, Alabama, and Joel Brinkley and wife Anne of Hillsborough, NC; three grandchildren, Ben (Donora) Pinkleton, Thomas (Meredith) Brinkley and Rebecca Brinkley; and four great grandchildren.

A funeral is planned for Friday, January 31, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain, NC.

Groce Funeral Home on Tunnel Road is handling the arrangements.

Services

Funeral Service: January 31, 2025 2:00 pm

Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery
962 Old US Hwy 70
Black Mountain, NC 28711

(919) 664-1195

Funeral Home Assisting The Family:

Groce Funeral Home on Tunnel Road
856 Tunnel Rd.
Asheville, NC 28805

(828)299-4416
http://www.grocefuneralhome.com

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  1. I’m sorry for your loss. Mrs. Brinkley was a kind and compassionate lady. I always enjoyed talking with her and Mr. Brinkley at the bank. My prayers are with the family.

  2. I’m very sorry for your loss. I remember all the fun we had going to the lake. I still have the scar where Joe hit me in the head with a rock. 😂 May you find comfort knowing she is in a better place. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

    Rick and Carolyn Bustle


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