Marjorie Ann Brownley Winter

NEW BERN, NC - Marjorie Ann Brownley Winter, age 98, of the Greenbriar community passed away on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Marj is survived by four children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild: Linda A. Winter Blacksher (William G.) of Sarasota, Fla.; Ranell S. Winter of New Bern, NC and her two children, J. Springer Wahl and Catharine Haley Wahl and great-granddaughter, Bryn Sian Wahl, of Pennsylvania; W. Alan Winter of Atlantic Beach, Fla., and his son, Joseph William Winter VI; and Sally E. Winter, wife of Robert D. Beerman of Rainbow City, Ala. Marj also leaves behind her sister-in-law, Josie Brownley; ten nieces and nephews; three step-granddaughters and nine step-great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband, Bill (married 67 years), Marj was also predeceased by a daughter, Victoria Allyn Winter; her parents, Charles Edward and Catherine Van Leer Brownley; and her two younger brothers, Robert Brownley and Edward Brownley.

Marjorie was born December 31, 1924, in Philadelphia, Pa., and raised in Delaware County, Pa., a suburban Philadelphia community. Following graduation from Haverford Township High School in 1941, she embarked on a career in the business world as an Executive Secretary. Marj married her husband, Bill, on December 20, 1943 and kept the home fires burning while Bill served in the Pacific during World War II. During her working career (back before women had careers), she worked at Charlestown Day School, Dettra Flag, and GE Miniature Lamps in Charlestown, Oaks, and King of Prussia, PA and W. L. Gore & Associates in Newark, DE as personal assistant to the head of those facilities.

After years of career and raising children, during which time the family lived in Chester County, Pa., Marj and her husband retired to their summer home in Kent County, Maryland, on the Sassafras River. Both avid sailors, they were members of the Kentmore Park Sailing Association and enjoyed small boat racing on the river. Marj also served as Secretary of the Sailing Club for several years. They were also members of Georgetown Racing Fleet (Delaware) and participated in their races and cruises on the Chesapeake Bay. In 1990, when they moved to Oriental, NC, Bill and Marj sailed their Catalina 27 sailboat to its new berth at their dock on Smith Creek and participated in the Sailing Club of Oriental until 2004 when they moved to New Bern.

Marj had a long and active life outside family, career and sailing. While still in Pennsylvania, she was a 30-year member of the Valley Forge Sweet Adelines and traveled to several cities in the US to perform. The highlight of her singing career was their performance at the international competition in the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1977. After the move to Kent County, MD, she served as President of the Kent & Queen Anne Hospital Auxiliary. Following the move to North Carolina, she was a member of the Harbour Town Racket Club for 23 years and participated in the USTA Senior Competitions in North Carolina into her early 80's. In her later years in New Bern, she was proud of her participation in the North Carolina DAR which stemmed from her interest in genealogy.

A private memorial service for Marj will be held at a later time at the convenience of the family. Friends who wish to do so may remember Marj by a contribution in her name to the NC Library for the Blind (instructions for donating at https://www.friendsnclbph.org/donate.php) or mail check to "Richard Dobbs Spaight Chapter, NSDAR" at 3804 Burlywood Lane, New Bern, NC 28562-1200.

Those wishing to offer condolences may visit www.dignitymemorial.com.

The Winter Family is being assisted by Cotton Funeral Home, New Bern, NC.