Marie Carper was the widow of Rev. William L. Sturtevant (died 1997)
Magnolia Marie Goswick Carper, 99 and 11 months, passed away on May 5, 2025, at The Hermitage Roanoke in Roanoke, VA.
Marie was born on June 4, 1925, in Franklin County, NC, but the family moved to Portsmouth, VA, when she was a small child. She grew up in a loving home during the Depression and told many stories of her parents doing without so that she could have something, the most memorable being ice cream.
She faithfully attended Pinners Point Methodist Church into adulthood. Her church happened to receive a new minister who was still studying at Duke Divinity School, and he spent more than the usual amount of time visiting the Goswick Household. Her parents finally figured out who the minister was really visiting, and Marie and Bill were married in 1942.
Marie proudly performed the duties of a minister’s wife for 54 years in the Virginia United Methodist Conference. She was widely known for her beauty and style, but mostly for her friendliness and outgoing nature. Together, Marie and Bill began and ran the Couple’s Retreat in Blackstone for many years.
After retirement, they moved to Franklinton, NC, to be near Marie’s mother. Bill continued to serve two churches with Marie by his side. She also had time to do arts and crafts and needle work which she really enjoyed and gave many pieces to family and friends. She received the Volunteer Service Award from the Governor of North Carolina in 1983 and another volunteer award in 1996, both for her service to the local hospital.
A while after her husband’s death, Marie moved to Roanoke. She later met Garland Carper at church. They married and enjoyed two years together before his death. She worked at Oakey’s Funeral Service for several years and always enjoyed the wonderful people there.
She was predeceased by her parents, Frank and Lola Goswick; her two infant sisters; her husbands, William L. Sturtevant and Garland E. Carper; and her son-in-law, Joel Pugh.
Marie is survived by her children, Claudia Pugh of Christiansburg; William L. Sturtevant, Jr. (Marie); of Fredericksburg; Brenda Clegg (Don) of Cleveland, TN; stepdaughter, Dr. Sandi Cox (Brian) of Virginia Beach; two stepsons. Her grandchildren are Michael Parks of Pulaski; Stephen Parks of Dublin; John Sturtevant of Alexandria; Timothy Sturtevant (Allison) of Marietta, GA; Will Sturtevant of Fredericksburg; and Lyndsay Clegg of Milwaukee, WI. She is also survived by four great grandchildren, Madalyn Parks and Reese, Sophie, and Camden Sturtevant.
A memorial service to honor Marie’s long life will be held at The Hermitage on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 2:00 PM. Friends may visit with the family one hour before the service.
If you care to do so, memorials may be made to the Samaritan Program at The Hermitage, Special Olympics, or a charity of your choice.
Our family will be forever grateful to the staff and nurses at The Hermitage Roanoke who not only cared for Marie, but loved her. We also thank Good Samaritan Hospice for their exceptional care of Marie and her children during her final week.
Arrangements by Oakey’s North Chapel, (540) 362-1237.