Mrs. Mary Lucille Brinkley, age 74, of Tunnel Hill, Georgia, departed this life Friday morning, July 5, 2013 at the Wooddale Health Care in Dalton, Georgia. Mary was born June 3, 1939 in Dalton, Georgia, a daughter of the late Raymond Levi Carr and Dollie Carr Nelson. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Jimmy Ray Brinkley and daughters, Freida Gail Jones and Wanda Sue Brinkley. Mary was a cancer survivor. She beat colon cancer twenty years ago and breast cancer over five years ago. She was a fighter to the very end. She was retired from the Ridgewood Manor Health Care and had worked many years as a cook in several local restaurants around Tunnel Hill, Georgia, which included, The Burger Den, Meadow Lake Restaurant and the Flying Saucer Restaurant, where she was known for her famous "Biscuits". Her favorite color was purple.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Tim and Karon Brinkley of Dalton, GA; daughters-son-in-law, Judy Dianne Cochran of Dalton, GA, Lessie Ramona and Gary Hickox of Cordele, GA, Renee and LeBron Sartin of Cohutta, GA; sister, Barbara Ridley of Dalton, GA; grandchildren, Dewight, Dewayne, Marianne, Michael, Lesli, Joel, Miranda, Skeeter, Tyler, Whitney, Nick and Lori; great-grandchildren, Cody, Alexis, Aubrey, Gracie, Dean, Sam, Gavin, Emma and Connor; special nephews who she thought of as sons, Mark Stanley and Jay Laird both of Rocky Face, GA; several other nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family would like to say a very special "Thank You" to the staff and nurses at Wooddale Health Care for all of the special care and love.

Services to celebrate the life of Mrs. Mary Lucille Brinkley will be held Sunday, July 7, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at Ponders Melrose Chapel with Reverend Lillard Stringer, Reverend Tony Roberson, Reverend Mike Teague and Reverend Frankie Ridley officiating. She will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband at the Whitfield Memorial Gardens with Michael Cochran, Dewight Brinkley, Dewayne Brinkley, Cody Brinkley, Tyler Ruff and Steve Young serving as pallbearers. Mark Stanley, Johnny Stanley, Jay Laird and Frankie Ridley will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends at Ponders Melrose Chapel from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. Saturday and after 10:00 a.m. Sunday until the service hour.

Arrangements by, Ponders Melrose Chapel, 138 Melrose Drive, Dalton, GA 30721, 706-226-4002. www.selectedindependentfuneralhomes.org and www.ogr.org