Claire Reynolds Warrick, age 87 and a resident of Temple Hills, MD, passed away due to complications from COVID-19 on February 8, 2021.

Claire was born the fifth of 10 children to Joseph and Martha Reynolds in Hammonton, New Jersey on April 5, 1933. She had humble beginnings as a farm girl who raised chickens, pigs, and picked lots of blueberries, for which she developed a life-long love. She walked the proverbial three miles to the local elementary school. Marked in her early years by the Great Depression, she learned to waste nothing.

Her extroverted personality and athleticism emerged in her youth. She excelled at basketball and field hockey. She became the first member of her family to join the Hammonton High Marching Band in her freshman year; as a senior she led the band as the Head Majorette. She had fond memories of marching in the Miss America parade in Atlantic City. Claire graduated from Hammonton High School in 1951.

After living several years in Germany during first husband Richard H. Dewberry, Sr.’s military service, Claire returned to the United States to live in Maryland and to raise their children. She began her career as an analyst at the United States Bureau of the Census in 1964, retiring in 1995.

While working at the Census Bureau, Claire met the love of her life, Edward Warrick, Sr. In life, it was widely known that Claire never liked to be far away from her “Babe” or “Darlin” too long. Claire and Ed would have celebrated their 40th anniversary on March 22, 2021.

Claire was baptized as a member of the Seabrook Seventh-Day Adventist church in 1977, and remained a member, faithfully attending services until the start of the pandemic.

Claire loved to learn, taking college courses and classes in carpentry, voice and belly dance. She shared her love of learning by teaching primary Sabbath school youth for many years at Seabrook Seventh-Day Adventist Church and, until recently, was a substitute teacher for the Prince George’s County school system. She loved music and was famous for listening to a song on repeat until those in hearing range complained. Claire had a notoriously steady and creative hand, used for her hobbies of sewing, ceramics, cake decorating and scrapbooking. Claire was an avid bowler from the 1960s until the pandemic began in 2020; also serving as the bowling league secretary for many years.

She was an incredible woman, who could be at once fierce and sweet. Opinionated; you never had to guess how she felt about anything. A great cook. Pragmatic. Funny, playful and phenomenal with children. Friendly. Loyal. Welcoming. Old-school classy. Beloved.

Claire is survived by her husband, Edward Warrick, Sr.; sisters Genevieve Reynolds Higgs and Patricia Reynolds Diaz; daughters Jen Dewberry and Cherie Jones, son Richard H. Dewberry, Jr.; stepchildren Frederick Warrick, Edward Warrick, Jr., Greg Warrick and Tracy Warrick; grandchildren Shana Dewberry, Jeffrey Dewberry and Andrew Jones; and one great-grandson, Christopher Wheeler. She is also survived by a host of extended family and devoted friends. Claire was predeceased by her daughter, Renee Dewberry.

Written condolences may be offered to the family, via Robert E. Evans Funeral Home, ATTN: Elaine or online. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic the date for A Celebration of Claire’s Life and her burial are private. Donations may be made in Claire’s memory to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation at: https://www.bcrf.org/

The Funeral will be live streamed on the Robert E. Evans Funeral Home Facebook page.

To view the live stream, please log Facebook and then go to the Robert E. Evans Funeral Home Facebook page and click on "posts" 10 minutes prior to the service.