Mary Hinely

1932 - 2025

HINELY (Brown), Mary

Mary Brown Hinely, 92, passed away at home on January 24, 2025, after a brave, nine-year battle with myxofibrosarcoma. She was the first of two children born in Batesburg-Leesville, SC, to Walter U. Brown and Zora Shealy Brown. She graduated from Murphy High School in Mobile, AL, Alabama College for Women (now University of Montevallo), and Louisiana State University with her master's degree.

Mary began her career as a professor of music at Jones College in Mississippi, and as the pianist where her father pastored. She moved to Atlanta in 1965, after accepting a teaching position at DeKalb College (now Georgia State University). She remained there for over 30 years and held multiple positions on the Faculty Senate, became the coordinator of the college's Guide to College Success Program, and was the Faculty Founder of the Dekalb Piano Ensemble, which she directed 1966-1997. The group then became the Redeemer Piano Ensemble under her directorship for another 20-plus years.

She was the choral director of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer from 1972 to 1999, and the associate director of the International Congress of Women in Music for several years, which led her to present research nationally and internationally. After retiring from the college and church, she taught piano to students of all ages.

Mary will be remembered for her faith, love of life, infectious laugh, stylish hats, passion for music, and tenacity.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 55 years, E. Austin Hinely; and brother, Walter U. Brown, MD. She is survived by her daughter, Hannah Tiegreen (Chris); grandsons, Timothy, Jonathan (Mattie), and Christopher; sister-in-law, Dr. Lynda Brown; and numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life for her and her late husband will be held at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, in Atlanta on February 15, at 2:30 PM. Visitation will take place at the church from 1 to 2:15 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to the Redeemer Friends of Music program or Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for research on myxofibrosarcoma.