We Remember Those We Have Lost

Marie Virginia Smith

BERLIN – Marie Virginia Smith, 89, died Monday, Sept. 13, 2010 at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin.

Born in Baltimore, she was the daughter of the late Harry M. and Beatrice A. Corame. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry E. Smith.

She is survived by her children, Harry E. Smith and his wife Beverly and Dianne B. Dowling and her husband Leo; her sister, Lorraine Mosco; four grandchildren: four great grandchildren; and her companion of over 40 years, Russell Cramer.
Funeral services will be private at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.

William Burbage

BERLIN – William “Bill” Burbage, 91, died Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010 at the Berlin Nursing Home and Rehab Center.

He was born in Snow Hill to the late John H. and Minnie Isabelle Burbage Weber. He resided in Berlin for most of his life working at the Berlin post office, serving as postmaster from 1973 until his retirement.

During World War II, he participated in the Normandy Invasion on D-Day and received a Bronze star for his wartime service.

He is survived by two step-daughters, Susan Caldwell and Peggy Bradford of Ocean City, and one step-son, Gene Parker of Ocean City, as well as several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by first wife, Louise Morris Parker Burbage in January 1980, and his second wife, Myrtle Williams Bradford Burbage in February 2005. Additionally, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Julia B. Cutright, Grace Elaine Gum, and one brother, John Howard Burbage.

Services were held. Family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Meals of Meals, c/o MAC Incorporated, 909 Progress Circle, Suite 100, Salisbury, Md. 21804.

Meg Whittington-James

BERLIN – Meg Whittington-James, 26, died on Sept. 9, 2010, at Deer’s Head Hospital in Salisbury, after a long illness.

She was the beloved daughter of Marilyn and Michael James and dearly loved sister of Matthew, Madison and Mary. She is survived by her grandparents, Kenneth and Dee Whittington, and grandmother, Ruth James. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Rev. Holland and Marilyn Barton. She also leaves behind her aunt and uncle, Vicki and Phil Whitman, and cousins, Jessica, John and Ross Whitman.

She never had to speak because she could light up a room with her beautiful smile. She made many friends and was loved by everyone especially the devoted staff at Deer’s Head. She had a brave heart and fought a courageous battle.

Services were held. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in her memory to the Deer’s Head Hospital Activities Department, Attn: Shelly, P.O. Box 2018, 351 Deer’s Head Hospital Rd., Salisbury, Md. 21802.

Arrangements in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.
Barbara J. Porter

BERLIN – Barbara Jane Porter died Sept. 3, 2010 at Atlantic General Hospital, after a long illness.

Born in Old Forge, Pa., she was the daughter of William Gownley and Catherine Flynn Gownley.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Robert Ernest Porter, and her daughters, Laura Marie Gonzalez and Marcia Ann Bena, both of Baltimore.

She was preceded in death by daughter, Catherine Lynn Porter. She was beloved grandmother to Emily Wells of Baltimore and Nicholas Finazzo of Rising Sun. She worked as a technical clerk for Verizon. She enjoyed cooking and crocheting, but her great love was her family, especially her grandchildren. She leaves behind two brothers, Lenny Gownley of Rocky Mount, N.C., and Michael Gownley of Cordele, Ga.; two sisters, Catherine Gall of Newport News, Va. and Patrice Stanford of Cordele Ga.; and two sisters-in-law, Carolyn Jayaraj, and Linda Amrhein of Baltimore.

A gathering in her memory will be held on Sept. 18 at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Timonium at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in her memory to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, Va. 23058

Arrangements are in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.
Vaughn F. Carey, Sr.

BERLIN – Vaughn F. Carey, Sr., 71, died Friday, Sept. 10, 2010 at Coastal Hospice at the Lake in Salisbury.

Born in Hebron, he was the son of the late Lester Carey and Annie Webb.
He was the owner and operator of Vaughn’s Trim Shop and then co-owner of  Berlin Auto Trim. He had a passion for street rods and drag racing.

He is survived by his closest buddy and son Vaughn Carey, Jr. and his wife Stephanie; daughters, Bonnie Cooper, Debbie Clark and Lisa Merrill; grandchildren, Riley, Koty and Emma Carey, David and Stephanie Cooper, Doug, Dustin, Dylan and Angel Merrill; brothers, Donald, Judd and Lester Carey; sister, Linda; and a close family member, David Cooper.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 3 p.m. at the Berlin Lions Club. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the 
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, 26 Broadway, 14th 
Floor, New York, NY 10004 or Coastal Hospice at the Lake, PO Box 1733, 
Salisbury, MD 21801. Arrangements are being handled by the Burbage Funeral 
Home in Berlin.


Mary E. Phillips

BERLIN – Mary E. Phillips, 78, of Berlin, died Friday, Sept. 10, 2010 at Coastal Hospice at the Lake in Salisbury.

She was born in Bishopville and was the daughter of the late Paul J. and Mildred M. (Bunting) Walker.  

She was a homemaker and a member of the Showell Vol. Fire Dept. Ladies Auxiliary.

She is survived by her husband, Ralph T. Phillips Sr. of Berlin; three sons, Gary L. Phillips of Hartwell, Georgia, Ralph T. Phillips Jr. of Pittsville and Scott Tilghman of Baltimore; three daughters, Linda Short of Baltimore, Diane White of Marathon, Iowa and Bonnie Cordner of Plattsmouth, Neb.; a brother, Paul J. Walker II of Georgetown, Del.; a step-brother, Gordy Swift of Georgetown, Del; eight grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Lou Highstrom in 2007.

A funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010 at Hastings Funeral Home in Selbyville with Rev. Dean Perdue officiating. Friends may call and hour before the service. Burial will be at Bishopville Cemetery in Bishopville.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Coastal Hospice, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, Md. 21802.