WILLIAMSBURG  –  Mary W. Bressler, 77, passed away in the comfort of her home in the early morning hours of January 23, 2025, surrounded by her loving husband, John, and her dear friend, Karen.  She had been bravely dealing with MDS/AML Leukemia for about 3 years.  She was born in 1947 in Charleston, West Virginia, the daughter of Ralph A. and Margaret (Cason) White.  Her early years were spent in St. Albans, WV, then the family moved to Greensburg, PA.  In 1964, a subsequent move took the family to Springfield, VA, where she graduated from Annandale High School.  Upon graduation, she attended and graduated from the University of Maryland. In 1982, Mary graduated from American University with a Master of Science in Public Relations.  For 20+ years, she was employed by Health and Human Services, where she had the opportunity to meet Dr. C. Everett Koop and Dionne Warwick.  She was thrilled by these experiences.

     After living in Springfield, her path led her to College Park, MD, South Carolina, back to Springfield, VA, to Tennessee with her husband, then to Williamsburg, VA.  In 1999, she met John H. Bressler while they were both trying to learn ballroom dancing.  They eventually got married on June 18, 2005.  They enjoyed living in Williamsburg, making many friends, going to farmers’ markets, and taking advantage of all the historic and cultural benefits that the area offers.  Mary was a member of the New Zion Baptist Church and really felt at home in the church and with the members of the congregation.

     Mary had many interests – she loved walking with John, keeping track of a broad spectrum of sports teams, swimming, going to art museums with John, wolves, being at and walking on the beach, reading, her outdoor flowers, all kinds of music, especially John Denver, and last, but not least, a good laugh!  For 7 years, she sold mulligans at the Coach Randall Charity Golf Classic.  She thoroughly enjoyed doing this and was quite successful in this endeavor.

     She is survived by her husband, John, and their cat, Wabi.  She also leaves a sister, Jane, and a brother, Case, and all of us will miss her dearly, along with several cousins and nephews.

     There is no service planned, but there will be a Celebration of Life for her in late spring.  Debbie Downers need not come, but there will be fun and frivolity.

     Mary’s Life’s Philosophy: Life is like a dog sled team.  If you ain’t the lead dog the scenery never changes.  Lewis Grizzard (RIP)

     Whenever Mary and John was walking or sitting on their screened in porch and Mary heard a cardinal, she would look for it. She always found it  and would say one day I will be up there with you. She loved all bird but in particular, she loved cardinals. John is sure she is a cardinal flying free. Mary was the light and love of his life.

     Online condolences may be expressed to www.vacremationsociety.com

      If you wish, please consider a donation to an organization listed below, all of which were close to her heart.  Thank you from all of us!

                New Zion Baptist Church Endowment Fund

                c/o New Zion Baptist Church

                3991 Longhill Rd.

                Williamsburg, VA  23188

                Coach Randall Charity Golf Classic

                       donate at:    RandallClassic.com

                Dolly Parton Imagination Library

                       donate at:    donate.imaginationlibrary.com

                Billie Jean King Foundation

                       donate at:   billiejeankingfoundation.org/donate

                National Wildlife Federation

                       Website:   nwf.org

                Nature Conservancy

                       donate at:   preserve.nature.org

In loving memory of the light and love of my life!

John Bressler