Mary “Mamie” Sherwell Bridges (1867-1898) was the daughter of Francis “Frank” Ephraim Bridges (1842-1885) and his first wife Annie Williams (ca. 1845-1868). In addition to her older sister, Alice C. Bridges (1866-1949), a third child is mentioned in one letter. Frank E. Bridges married second, Sarah Elizabeth Anthony (1844-1934) in 1870, and they had five children; Annie Yvonne (1871-1957), Ophelia (1873-1958), Mattie (1875 - ), Frances Bridges (1880-1963), and Louis D. Bridges (1882 - ). Frank E. Bridges died in 1885 from tuberculosis.

Mary Sherwell Bridges and her older sister, Alice C. Bridges stayed with relatives Clara (Baggott) Speights, (1839–1921) and her husband Van (Evander McIver Speights 1840–1904) during the 1880s in Hendersonville, Colleton County, SC while attending Greenville Female College (GFC).

Mary Sherwell Bridges married George T. Barr (1858-1956), having met through George’s sisters, her GFC classmates, Bessie and Annie Barr. They had five children; Clara Speights (1888-1964), George Daniel (1891-1979), Marjorie McIver (1894-1964), Evander Speights (1896-1898) and Mamie Sherwell (1898-1938). Mary Sherwell (Bridges) Barr died in December 1898 of tuberculosis.

Mary’s daughter, Marjorie McIver Barr would become the wife of William T. O’Steen and mother to Marjorie “Boots” Barr O’Steen.