Marilyn L. Dorsey

Marilyn Leonie Dorsey, 79, suddenly passed away on April 29, 2026. Marilyn was born in England to the late Reginald and Dorothy Morton Sell. To know Marilyn was to love her; she never met a stranger, only friends she hadn’t connected with yet. She loved her career and was a powerhouse executive and cornerstone of the Hampton Roads maritime labor community. Marilyn built a lasting legacy by mentoring careers and expertly staffing shipyards. Thriving under pressure, she earned deep respect and affection from the thousands of workers she supported with precision and care.

Known for her infectious, outgoing spirit, Marilyn filled her days with passion: experimenting with new recipes, taking on creative craft projects, and making a splash at the YMCA pool. She loved volunteering at Lighthouse Pointe, helping the residents at the local senior living community. Her home was a welcoming haven, always filled with love, laughter, delicious aromas, and the warmth of friendship. She cherished nothing more than ending the day with "wine time"—having a glass and heartfelt conversation with those she loved. After all, it’s 5 o’clock somewhere! Marilyn leaves behind a legacy of boundless love and a zest for life, cherished most in the time she spent with her loved ones.

Left behind to cherish her memory are her loving husband of 43 years, Michael; children, Sue (Steve), Sonia (Joseph); grandchildren, Jessica, Ryan; twin sister Kay; nephew Dave and a host of other family and friends.

Marilyn's funeral service will be held Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 11:00 at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 6329 E. Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk. Please visit her webpage at www.woodlawnnorfolk.com to leave a note of condolence to her family.

Eulogy---

Mum's life was incredibly full, despite ending too soon. Gathering and chronicling her adventures to capture her essence takes more than a few words; it feels like editing a beautiful, endless novel. Thankfully, we have all day! Just kidding… see …I have Mum’s humor too.

From a young age, she forged lifelong bonds filled with mischief, fun, and daring adventures. Even when in-person visits were not possible, those deep connections from her youth remained a treasured part of her life.

Though becoming a mother was always her first and best chapter, meeting her American sailor “Dad” in London started a beautiful new phase of her life and was a turning point for Mum; his unwavering love and support nurtured her growth, giving her wings to fly and the space to let her beautiful personality truly shine.

Her journey to America, culminating in her U.S. citizenship, was a time filled with deep pride and joy. Mum embraced her American life wholeheartedly, always bringing a touch of home by sharing her British traditions. Mum truly blossomed in America eventually taking the ship repair and building industry by storm. As we’ve heard, Mum was a force to be reckoned with, breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry and setting a high bar for excellence. But beyond her professional achievements, she was a deeply compassionate leader who cared for every single person she worked with.

Drawing from her own experiences, Mum often encouraged others to rise to challenges and refuse to be held back. Her advice for success? Start in the role, fake it until you make it, and confidence will follow.

Mum adored her job and her colleagues so much that she didn't retire until she was 70. When she first brought it up, I told her she’d need a plan; knowing how much she loves to stay active, I knew she needed a plan to keep her spirit as engaged as her work had.

Over the years, Mum dedicated her time to various volunteer efforts. Combining her passion for cooking with community service, she taught spiralizing classes to local senior groups.

Additionally, she served as a board member for the HER Shelter, a wonderful local organization providing vital resources for survivors of domestic violence. Leveraging her extensive network, she was a perfect fit for organizing fundraising events, particularly the annual gala.

Most recently, Mum volunteered at Lighthouse Pointe, a local senior living community. Every Monday, she brought exciting activities to the residents, who absolutely adored her. With her vibrant sense of humor, she brought endless smiles, laughter, and brightness to

their days—not to mention, she introduced everyone to the game Left, Right, Center, a chaotic riot that had everyone hustling for the money pot!

Over the last several years, Mum faced immense obstacles—a broken back, and a severe fall that resulted in a broken arm, leg, and nose. While these devastating injuries might have broken someone else, not Mum. After shedding a tear, she would dig deep, facing her adversity with incredible grit, positivity, and unwavering perseverance. By taking it one day at a time, she overcame it all and reclaimed her life!

Christmas was her favorite time of year, and her home became a festive sanctuary with decorations in every room and multiple trees glittering throughout the house. Filling the air with holiday spirit, she loved hosting friends and sharing her British tradition of Christmas crackers, finding pure joy in getting everyone to wear their silly hats.

Beyond being a cherished Wife, Mum, Nana, and Meme, she was famously known as 'British Mum' to so many—we have a lot of 'sisters,' Sue! With such an inherently nurturing heart, she naturally became a mother figure to everyone around her, leaving behind a legacy of love and a very large, devoted 'extended family.' She had a special way of making everyone feel adored, often using endearing nicknames for family like ‘sugar puff,’ 'sweet pea,' 'little flower,' 'little shark,' or her affectionately coined 'Josephus.' While her career and volunteering were important, it was her family that truly anchored her, bringing her the most joy, love, and fulfillment. Family held the deepest place in her heart, serving as the source of strength and unconditional love that defined her. For her, cooking was a deep expression of that love rather than just a daily chore, as she poured her heart into every meal for Dad, family, and friends. She took great joy in exploring new recipes and experimenting in the kitchen. In her leisure time, she loved relaxing with a glass of wine while working on creative projects, such as painting wine glasses or crafting intricate diamond art.

Her fierce strength inspired us, her boundless love united us, and her incredible legacy will guide us forever.

Thank you for every smile, every hug, every kiss, and for wrapping us in your giant heart. We love you forever, Mum. We would say to rest peacefully now, but we know better than that. So, go dance with the angels!!