Mary Hines

  It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved “Mama”, Mary L. Hines.  Mary was surrounded by her family, when she went home to be with the Lord, on Saturday, May 17, 2025.

  Mary was a bright, vibrant, and radiant woman who brought joy and love to all of those around her.  She was a kind and giving soul who would literally open her home to anyone who needed a place to stay.  Big, small, young, old – if you needed something, Mary Hines was going to be there to take care of you.  She was a foster parent for the Department of Social Services for many years and received a Foster Parent of the Year award.  Every child that passed through her home was her child.  Mary was also known for her culinary skills and she loved cooking BIG meals and feeding people.  If you were ever hungry, you knew you could pop up at 104 Buckingham Street and get a home cooked meal.  Especially on a holiday or a Sunday.  Her home was famous for Sunday Dinners.

 Mary was born on October 17, 1938, in Monroe Louisiana, to the late Lester Randolph and Fanny Hall.  She also met and married the love of her life, the late Robert Hines, Jr. there, at the age of sixteen.

  In 1966, Robert and Mary migrated north to Springfield, Massachusetts.  Here Mary completed her education.  She was a Supervisor at Spaulding Sporting Goods in Chicopee, Massachusetts, and worked at Milton Bradley in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts.  Mary was a member of Greater New Life Christian Center in Indian Orchard, Massachusetts, where she served as a Missionary.

  Pre-deceased by her parents, Lester Randolph and Fanny Hall;  her husband, Robert Hines, Jr.;  her daughter, Lydia Hines-Johnson (Charles);  her son, Kelvin D. Hines;  a daughter-in-law, Eloise Wright-Hines;  her grandson, Richard Cunningham, IV;  and two brothers and two sisters, Mary is survived by her sister, Gloria James of Monroe, LA, and her devoted children, Eddie L. Hines, of Weems, VA, Joyce Cunningham, Robert Hines III, Vivian D. Hines, and Wanda Collins (Carl), all of Springfield, Massachusetts.  Mary also leaves to cherish her memory her eleven grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren, her brother in Christ, Reverend Zachary Slater, a host of nieces and nephews, and a very special niece who she loved like a daughter, LaShanda Randolph.

  We invite everyone who knew and loved Mary to come and celebrate her life and Homegoing on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 33 Oak Street Springfield, Massachusetts.  The viewing will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon, with the funeral starting at noon, followed by burial at Oak Grove Cemetery, 426 Bay Street, Springfield, MA.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Hines, please visit our floral store.