Marjorie Susan Orr Avery

Marjorie Susan Orr Avery was the third child born to the union of Thomas Bell Orr and Lillian Phillips Orr on February 20, 1948 in Decatur, Georgia. She lived a happy childhood centered around her church, family, extended family and fun activities.

In 1966 she graduated from Decatur High School and, in 1970, she graduated from the University of Georgia. At UGA on October 11, 1968 she met Allan “Pat” Avery and they have loved one another all these years. They were married March 11, 1972, the beginning of a fifty year journey.

As a new military wife Marge embraced the excitement of numerous moves as well as the challenges of quickly making each new duty station their home. Margie and Pat welcomed into their hearts and lives two daughters: Molly Susan and Bonnie Elizabeth.

The last duty station of this military career returned them to eastern North Carolina in 1988. New Bern became their forever home. Being involved is just the way Marge did things. She was involved in her girls’ schools and activities. Marge taught school over twenty years in the Craven County School System and there, made wonderful friends.

She was a world traveler and adventurer, but thought the best place to be, particularly in spring with her carefully tended hydrangeas blooming, was at her home.

A primary focus for Marge was First Presbyterian Church of New Bern. She and her family first joined in 1980. Margie was an ordained elder, taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, ushered, worked in the church kitchen, and welcomed each opportunity to serve. All her life her church family, wherever that might have been, was a mainstay.

Marge is missed beyond defining by the survivors who loved her: Allan Patterson Avery, Molly Avery and Lloyd Roark, Bonnie and Alejandro Arciniegas, grandchildren Lucia Elizabeth and Diego Avery Arciniegas.

She is also survived by her sister Patsy Orr Cox, her brother Samuel Lewis Orr, beloved nieces and nephews who, as did her grandchildren, called her “Bo.”

She is preceded by her parents, her sister Helen Orr Hall, sister-in-law Ann Orr, and brother-in-law Gene Cox.

Margie was a valiant fighter her last seven years, living her last two years on supplemental oxygen, playing her favorite game of pickleball with a backpack oxygen tank, gardening, home decorating, and teaching her granddaughter to sew. She was not a complainer before or after her diagnosis. Margie was the smiling bright spot in our lives. She was not able to conquer pulmonary fibrosis. On the last day of battle, with full faith in Christ, she said to her wonderful Duke University Hospital doctors, “I hear the angels singing. I am prepared.”

The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 10th at First Presbyterian Church, 400 New St., New Bern, North Carolina.

In memoriam gifts may be made to: First Presbyterian Church Foundation, P.O. Box. 1069, New Bern, NC 28563-1069.