Mary Anne (Richardson) Alexander

Published 10:57 am Friday, June 27, 2025

Mary Anne (Richardson) Alexander, 95, passed peacefully into her heavenly home on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1929, in Portsmouth, Virginia, to the late Dori Paul Sr. and Leora Richardson.

A proud native of the Newtown area of Portsmouth, Mary Anne graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1948. Soon after, she began her nursing career, graduating from the Hospital of the King’s Daughters as a registered nurse in 1951. She dedicated her life to caring for others, beginning in the Labor & Delivery Unit at Portsmouth General Hospital. There, she later served as director of volunteers. She had a deep passion for supporting expectant and new mothers and launched the first Mothers and Baby care class for the Red Cross of America’s Portsmouth chapter.

Mary Anne was a devoted member of Monumental United Methodist Church in Portsmouth. She took great joy in church events, fellowship, and service. One of her cherished missions was “Baby Bundles,” which provided knitted blankets, hats, and baby booties to new mothers at Maryview Hospital.

In retirement, she enjoyed evening walks around the neighborhood, tea parties with her grandchildren, and delighted in time spent at the beach in Frisco, North Carolina. She enjoyed genealogy and found excitement in tracing her family history and often embarked on adventures to discover more about her lineage. Until her final days, she stayed in close contact with her nursing school friends and looked forward to their regular telephone reunions.

Above all, Mary Anne loved being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Time with her family, her “babies”, was her greatest joy. Afternoon tea-time was a close second.

She was preceded into eternal life in 2019 by her beloved husband of 69 years, James Waller Alexander Sr., 89. Mary Anne often recalled with a smile how he began courting her when they were just 16 years old, living only blocks apart in Newtown. To know them was to know true love—and now, that love is reunited.

She was also preceded in death by her siblings: Lily Mae Richardson, Virginia Auerback, and twins Dori Paul Richardson and Barbra “Bobbie Jean” Murenson.

Mary Anne is survived by her son, James “Jim” Alexander Jr., and his wife Cheryl; her daughter, Susan Andrews, and her husband “Biff”; three grandchildren: Lindsay Richardson (Tim), Rachel Alexander (Tina Honea), and Jamie Fiegl (Mark); and five great-grandchildren: Colden (16), Ashlynn (16), Campbell (10), Grayson (10), and River (2), with another on the way, Finn, (expected in July). She is also survived by her goddaughter, Katie Ireland, along with many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Mary Anne embodied unconditional love. Her patience and kindness were unmatched. She always made sure to remind her family that she “loved you more.”

A celebration of life will be held on Monday, June 30, at 11:00 a.m. at Monumental United Methodist Church, 450 Dinwiddie Street in Portsmouth, VA 23704 with a reception following at Noon in the church fellowship hall. A private interment will be held at Olive Branch Cemetery.

Donations may be made in Mary Anne’s memory to the Nativity at  Monumental United Methodist Church at www.monumentalumc.org or by mail to 450 Dinwiddie Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Sturtevant Funeral Home, 5201 Portsmouth Boulevard, Portsmouth, Virginia. Flowers may be sent directly to the funeral home.