Obituary for Julia Tyree Bate MacFarland 

With heartfelt sadness we announce the passing of beloved family matriarch Julia Tyree Bate MacFarland. Julia Tyree died April 29, 2026, at age 102 in her home, embraced and surrounded by members of her immediate family and caregivers. 

Born January 7, 1924, at home in Castalian Springs, on the farm where her ancestors had settled well over two hundred years ago, she was the daughter and only child of Hortense Onio Carter of Lafayette, TN and William Tyree Bate of Castalian Springs, TN. 

Julia Tyree”s early schooling was by private tutor until age nine, when she began attending Castalian Springs School as a fourth grader, graduating with her classmates in eighth grade, then entering and finishing at Gallatin Senior High as her class Valedictorian. She earned her A. A. degree at Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri and was elected to Phi Theta Kappa Senior Honor Society. Following Stephens, she entered Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN and earned her B. A. degrees in English and Psychology graduating Magna Cum Laude and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society as well as many other clubs. It was at Vanderbilt that she first met Alfred MacFarland, who was serving in the Tennessee General Assembly as Senator from Wilson County, the same seat his father held 32 years prior. Alfred very charmingly offered to show Julia and her suite mates, (who were investigating state government for an assignment at Vandy) the Senate Chambers and legislature. As an additional courtesy, he offered to deliver the young ladies back to campus to save them a bus ride from downtown back to their classes. An extended courtship evolved which eventually ended in marriage on October 5, 1952 and lasted for the next 54 years. 

Being the wife of a gregarious, charismatic politician and attorney involved hosting many social gatherings, a task in which she excelled. Many times she hosted parties in threes-one for associates and friends of Alfred’s, followed the next evening by a second party for their mutual friends and neighbors, and finally gathering the third night with family. Entertaining was her great joy and she oversaw every detail from designing beautiful floral decorations, creating sumptuous dinners and inventing fun party games to entertain. She loved to travel and explore new locales, had a love for history and historical residences and often volunteered to help when there was an opportunity to fundraise and preserve local buildings. She stayed actively engaged in political elections and worked at the polls every election until retiring in her 80’s. 

In the mid-seventies, Julia and Alfred resided in Washington, D.C. for 6 years when Alfred was appointed a Commissioner on the Interstate Commerce Commission, and they were there to celebrate the country’s Bicentennial. She hosted a ‘Thanksgiving Dinner Internationale', where friends from Italy, Israel, Mexico, Canada, England and various cities across the states brought a favorite typical dish. She absolutely relished her time in the always bustling and event filled capital city, but ultimately the love of homeplace called, and they settled back in Tennessee where she enjoyed a peaceful life doting on family, and became enthusiastically involved in her beloved church, First Presbyterian of Gallatin. Here she again was able to flex her creative entertaining skills and spent many happy hours planning events with her Presbyterian Women’s Circle 3 group, and separately hosting her friends, family and neighbors for workshops, group luncheons and travel outings several times a year. 

Julia Tyree was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Commissioner Alfred Towson MacFarland, and beloved son, Alfred Towson MacFarland, II.

She is survived by her daughter, Tyree Bate MacFarland, Nashville, TN, son, Carter Crowe MacFarland (Pamela), Lenoir City, TN; grandchildren: Julia Elizabeth MacFarland Eadler (Andrew) (Hartsville, TN), John Towson MacFarland (Katie) (Fountain Run, KY), Carter Patrick MacFarland (Elena) (Baton Rouge, LA), Darcy Towson MacFarland (Marseille, France), and Tess Kinnear MacFarland (Mandeville, LA); as well as three great-grandchildren, Keenan and Rayle MacFarland and Olivia Eadler. Julia loved life and did all she could to live fully for her 102 plus years on earth. It can be said that her thirst for living was integral to her soul, and her family remains grateful to be there with her through part of it. We also wish to express how grateful we have been for the gentle care given by so many at Highpoint Hospice, particularly Larry Smith, Holly Gunter and Melanie Capps, nighttime caregiver Vonnie Allison, and her decades-long caregiver and companion Anglin Wright. 

 In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to First Presbyterian Church, 167 W. Main Street, Gallatin, TN 37066 or Historic Castalian Springs, 200 Cragfont Rd., Castalian Springs, TN 37031 (pr via the Historic Castalian Springs website).

Details of the celebration of life in honor of Julia Tyree Bate MacFarland is to be announced and will be posted online.