Marsha Somers

Dr. Marsha Somers, a counseling psychologist, died of breast cancer at the age of 69 at her home in Venice, Florida, on August 11, 2023. She was the daughter of Boyce and Alice Burleson, and is survived by her husband, Edwin, her sister, Brenda, six nieces and nephews and other close relatives that she adored.

Marsha was born on September 8th, 1953, in Fairfax, Virginia. She started work as a secretary and advanced thru higher level administrative roles while completing her college education. She was a very fast typist and could take shorthand as fast as someone talked. In some college classes, she had verbatim shorthand notes of everything the professor said. She completed a B.A. in Psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University, an M.A. at University of Maryland, and a PhD. at Temple University. Her doctoral dissertation was the development of a measure of belongingness.

Marsha had over 25 years of clinical, teaching and research experience. She was an Associate Professor of Psychology at Montgomery College for four years and had a private practice of individual, couples and group therapy. She also provided psychological testing and assessments for bariatric surgery candidates. Marsha was extremely empathic and caring with her patients, and everyone else as well.

She loved her two Pugs. The first was wild thing Pud and the second was calm Lucy. They were her children. Lucy was from a Pug rescue organization which is why she wants donations in lieu of flowers to Pug Rescue of North Carolina, pugrescuenc.org.

Marsha was also fond of her friends from high school, some she knew for over 50yrs, & was instrumental in organizing 6 high school reunions.

A service will be held at Demaine Funeral Home in Fairfax, Virginia, on September 8th at 4:30 to 5:30