Mary Markwalter Gambill

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Mrs. Mary Markwalter Gambill, wife of the late Russell Floyd Gambill, Jr., entered into rest Thursday, July 8, 2021 peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family.

Mary was born on November 9, 1924, the fourth child of Charles Victor and Agnes Sheehan Markwalter at their home on the 1300 block of Broad Street in Augusta, Georgia. Her siblings include Louise Markwalter Wright and John Sheehan Markwalter and his wife Marcelene Neely Markwalter. She was predeceased by Charles Victor Markwalter, Jr., Edward Aloysius and Betty Markwalter, Ann Markwalter Leonard and Denny Leonard, Jane Markwalter Eubanks, Agnes Markwalter Brennan and Tom Brennan.

Mary was baptized at Sacred Heart Church, was a 1941 graduate of Mount St. Joseph Academy, and an active parishioner of St. Mary on the Hill for 93 years. She was also a dedicated volunteer at St. Mary on the Hill School and Aquinas High School.

After one year at Augusta Junior College, Mary joined the war effort by working at Fort Gordon and dancing at the USO with soldiers going overseas. Mary met Floyd after the war in 1948 at Doc’s Bar on Tybee Island when she went in to ask for a cold drink of water. Mary and Floyd were married in 1950. They enjoyed 56 years loving each other and their large extended family and numerous friends. Mary welcomed everyone to her home and was always ready with a Coca-Cola, pound cake, ice box cookies, and ice cream sandwiches.

Family members include her children: Mary Markwalter Gambill Henderson and the late Allen Long Henderson, Russell Floyd Gambill III, Agnes Sheehan Gambill Mirshak and the late Timothy Samuel Mirshak, Julia McTeer Gambill, the late Louise Patterson Gambill Bussey and Raymond Emerson Bussey, Joseph Victor Gambill and Helen Stager Gambill, Jean Marie Gambill Riess and Wayne Howard Riess, Paul Robert Gambill and Kathleen Pinkerton Gambill; grandchildren: Mary Elaine Gambill Byrnes (Scott), Brian Timothy Mirshak (Valerie), Anna Catherine Mirshak Burns (Justin), Joseph Samuel Mirshak (Carrie), Ellen Elizabeth Mirshak, Margaret Sheehan Mirshak Butler (Brooks), John Irvin Paulk III (Susan), David Russell Paulk (Ashleigh), Gerard Thomas Paulk (Brigid), Julia Mary Paulk Curran (Matthew), Raymond Michael Bussey (Stephanie), Karen Elizabeth Bussey Blaedow (Ryan), Daniel Patterson Bussey, Mary Margaret Bussey, Joseph Wilson Gambill, Caroline Hamlett, CJ Hamlett IV, Michael Gambill Riess (Lauren), Anna Elizabeth Riess, Emily Michele Gambill, and Paul Wilson Gambill (Ashley); great-grandchildren: Foster, Hayden and Ashley Byrnes; Sam, Ben, Nick, Cormac, and Graham Mirshak; Liam, Cate, and Charlie Burns; Jones, Mack, Millie, Jack, and Charlie Paulk; Chloe Curran; Gabriel, Noah, Caleb, Tristen, Ethan, Westin and Wendy Bussey; July Blaedow; AnnaLail and the late William Watkins; Liam Riess; and Killian Gambill; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and Godchildren.

The family would like to remember the late Jenny Smith Harris for her many years of loving care. The family appreciates the tender care provided by Diane Johnson and Rachel Davis over the last few years as well as Deacon Albert Sullivan for his spiritual care.

The Vigil Service will be Friday evening at 6:00 at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church and the family will receive friends following from 6:30 until 7:30 P.M.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, July 10, 2021, at 1:00 P.M. at St. Mary on the Hill with Fr. Mark Ross celebrant. Pallbearers will be her grandsons and altar servers will be her great grandsons. Interment will follow in Westover Memorial Park.

Mary loved her church and supported many charities. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Aquinas High School or Catholic Social Services.

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com .