Mary Anne DeMaria

Born May 23, 1929 in Norfolk, Virginia to William and Mary (Eaton) Cooke, Mary Anne was an only child but grew up among cousins and other extended family.

She grew up in Norfolk was sharing many fond memories of people and places just a few months before her death. Following graduation from Maury High School, Mary Anne received her degree from Madison College (now James Madison University) in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Soon after, she married and shortly following, they moved from Richmond, Virginia to Miami, Florida with two young daughters ( a third daughter would be born in Miami) where she worked tirelessly as a pastor's wife to help Palmetto Presbyterian Church of South Miami be prayerfully planted and grow.

In the mid, 1960's, she began working at the University of Miami as an administrative assistant at the law school and another adjunct educational program, retiring from there in the late 70's.

When she met and married Al DeMaria in the mid-70's, she sound the love of her life. She also gained six new children who she loved as her own until the day she died.

Following her retirement from UM, she loved spending time with her husband, Al, her adult children, and her growing number of grandchildren and eventually, great-grandchildren as well as serving with their church, Killian Pines Methodist in Miami. At that time, she also loved to do needlework, knitting, and crafts. But her family was her first love... and she spent countless weeks on the road visiting them.

So in 2002, Mary Anne and Al moved to Marietta, where they could be close to 4 of their children. They quickly settled into their new lives, spending time with family in the area and making many cherished friends at Wesley Chapel Methodist Church where she also served in various capacities as well.

One of her greatest joys in these last years were on Monday mornings. Even up to the Monday before her death, Mary Anne could be found having coffee and donuts, exchanging funny stories and laughter, at her house with a dear group of "coffee guys" who had been part of Al's life weekly and who had the tradition with many of their wives with Mary Anne. They were family to her and continued to be a great source of encouragement to her following his death.

Mary Anne exuded the love, mercy and grace of Christ in all she said and did; she loved well, be it her family, friends, or friends of her children. Her smile and laughter made everyone feel welcomed and many felt like she was their "mom" too. She also continued a ministry of encouragement to people far and wide as she personally selected and sent cards and notes for every occasion until her failing sight and weakened hands made it too difficult.

She knew her hope was in Jesus Christ and that she would one day be with God, whom she loved, because of her relationship with Jesus. She pointed her children to that hope and His Word from early in their lives, by her words and actions.

The joy of Mary Anne's life was her family who loved her deeply and who will miss her greatly. She showed great love and care for her Husband of 38 years, Al, even as he battled back from a stroke and cancer but who preceded her in death.

Mary Anne is survived by nine children: Annie (Todd) Trimmer of Marietta, GA, Joy (Gordon) Moore of Peachtree Corner, GA, Dawn (Steve) Weeks of Madison, MS, Bob (Dayle) DeMaria of Naples, FL, Laura (Mike) Looper of The Woodlands, TX, Diane (Dennis) Edwards of Woodstock, Mark (Anne) DeMaria of Pembroke Pines, FL, Eve DeMaria of Homestead, FL, Carl (Nicole) DeMaria of Atlanta, GA; 21 grandchildren and spouses, and 15 great-grandchildren with 2 more on the way.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at 2:00 PM at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, 4495 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta, GA 30066. A reception for remembering will be held following the service. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church.

The family extends its love and gratitude to the two caregivers who loved her and gave of themselves to her so well even to the end: Donique Wonder and Virginia Ngurau.

"...we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God" Romans 5 1-2