Ann Marie Medley, 85 of Newark, Delaware.

Her Journey

Life is a journey that has many chapters that create the path of our purpose which the Lord has craved out for individuals. There is the beginning, the middle, and the end of the journey. During each chapter of our lives, it is our hope to live a meaningful and impactful life devoted in Christ, such as Ann Marie Medley.

Ann Marie Lewis, affectionately known as Marie, was born on August 15, 1935 to Ruth Elizabeth and William H. Lewis in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After the end of her parent's marriage, Marie was raised by her mother and stepfather George L. Quivar, who she lovingly called "Pop". Ruth and George instilled the core values of devotion to the Lord, family, and others which resonated throughout Marie's life.

Growing up in Philadelphia, Marie was an active member of the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She dedicated her life to Christ and was baptized as a teenager. Marie performed along with her younger sister, Florence, and friends as a member of the Harmonic Choraliers founded and organized by her mother the late Mrs. Ruth E. Quivar.

Marie received her education through the Philadelphia Public School system and graduated from William Penn High School with honors in 1953. She began business school, but her love for reading lead her to a career as a librarian for the Philadelphia Public Library System where she loved and worked for more than fifteen years.

Marie married Benjamin Valentine Gibbs on September 19, 1959 at the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The couple settled in a home in South Philadelphia, and the union produced two children, Kenneth Martin and Sharon Darlene. The couple was married for seven years until the Lord called Benjamin home in 1966.

Marie continued as a strong, single parent devoted to instilling the core values that were impressed upon her growing up.

The Lord blessed Marie once again when she married Wardal "Michael" Medley on August 23, 1969 at Our Mother of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The two built a life as devoted parents to Kenneth and Sharon. Michael's distinguished military career resulted in the family moving to Albany, Georgia, and Santa Ana, California. The couple resided in California for more than twenty-six years and then retired to Newark, Delaware to be closer to family and friends.

During their retirement, the couple embraced life through traveling, spending time with family and friends, creating many memorable  family and holiday gatherings, and dotting over their two grandsons, Michael Benjamin Cooper and William Drain Cooper II.

Marie's upbringing which was rooted in Faith and Love , equipped her with the ability to unselfishly help others navigate life. Although Marie's earthly life transitioned on November 5 ^th to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, she leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, strength, and compassion.

This devoted woman of God, leaves behind her husband, Michael W. Medley, son, Kenneth M. Gibbs (Patricia), daughter, Sharon Gibbs Cooper (Anthony "Tony" Cooper), grandsons, Michael Benjamin Cooper and William Drain Cooper II,  sister (Florence E. Quivar), sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, cousins, and a host of other relatives and loved ones.

Visitation, 12:00 noon, until time of Service, 12:30 pm, Saturday, November 14, 2020, in the Chapel of Thornton Funeral Home, P.A., 3439 Livingston Road, Indian Head, Maryland 20640.

Interment, St. Mary's Piscataway Catholic Church Cemetery, 13401 Piscataway Road, Clinton, Maryland 20735.

Live Stream Information

On Saturday, November 14, 2020 at 12:30 p.m. please click on the link below to live stream the service.

Please make sure when viewing the services that the volume located in the right lower corner (where it says "live") on the viewing screen is turned up (the bars should be blue).

Thank you.

https://www.thorntonfuneralhomepa.com/live-stream