Barbara Ellen Maury

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Barbara Ellen Maury, age 90, who departed peacefully on August 3, 2024. Born April 18, 1934, to Laura Fay "Lexie" Sisk and James D. Mathis in Rutherford County, NC. and adopted by her stepfather, Dominic Theodore Monticello, at the age of 15, Barbara was preceded in death by her mother, adopted father, sister Peggy Mathis Alimo, her husband Kenneth Robert Maury Sr and her son-in-law Michael Waters. Barbara is survived by her 4 daughters, Patricia Burch Rankin, Carol Burch Waters, Jane Burch Friddell and Ruth Burch Dziwulski (Tom). She is also survived by 9 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

After staying at home to raise her four daughters in Baltimore, Barbara received her PhD in Psychology and had a distinguished career, working until the age of 80 in the Bon Secours EAP program and helping others in her professional capacity. Barbara was a beauty queen (Ms. Maryland T.V, 1952; Ms. USS Coral Sea) an accomplished performer on stage and a music director at her beloved Temple Baptist Church in Woodlawn, MD.

Fierce, loving, accomplished and hardworking, Barbara was a force of nature who could simultaneously bake the best brownies and give you a life lesson you didn’t know you needed. Her grandchildren fondly remember her as the ultimate motivator and supporter, always pushing them to be their best and cheering them on. Barbara loved her family, reading, traveling and, most of all, Jesus. Her faith inspired others around her and was the cornerstone of her life.

The family gives a special thank you to those who became her friends and caretakers in later years: Margo Stevens, Debbie Baillio, Charmaine Miller, Wings Over Virginia, and Baylake Assisted Living.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Barbara's honor to Tree Of Lives (www.treeoflives.org) or Thalia Lynn Baptist Church (www.thalialynn.com). A celebration of her life and her love of Jesus will be held Sunday, August 25th, at 1 PM, at Rosewood-Kellum Funeral Home, 601 N Witchduck Rd, Virginia Beach VA 23462.