Marianne Wright Prentiss
Marianne Wright Prentiss, lovingly known as Nana by her family, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2023, surrounded by family members and is now in God's loving care. Marianne was born August 29, 1943, in Newport News to the late Stough and Mattie Wright. She is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Hal, her son Greg and daughter-in-law Glenda, her grandchildren Whitney, Cameron and Tyler, her great grandson Colt and her sister, Gloria Panton. She was predeceased by her brother James Wright.
Marianne grew up in Hampton and graduated from Hampton High School in 1961. After high school she attended Radford College (now University) where she met her future husband Hal (who was attending Virginia Tech) on a blind date. After they married, he joined the Army where he was assigned to the US Army, Berlin Brigade, Berlin, Germany where they spent 2 ½ adventuresome years at the height of the Cold War. While in Berlin, Marianne joined the Civil Service and was fortunate to get a job with the 513th Intelligence Corps where she had visions of being a female James Bond. It was also during this time that their son, Greg, was born.
After the army, they returned to Hampton Roads where Marianne worked for Navy Facilities Engineering Systems Command while Hal finished his education at Old Dominion University. After a short time in Pittsburgh, they moved to Hampton where they resided for the next 50 years. There, Marianne worked for several years with the US Army at Fort Monroe.
Marianne was very involved in the community as a member of the Junior League of Hampton Roads, the local P.E.O. Chapter, the Wythe Junior Woman's Club where she served as president for several years, and the fund-raising committee of the Hampton History Museum. She was also active in the Huntington Garden Club where she enjoyed her passion for flower arranging and decorating in general. Her passions led to her home being featured on the annual Garden Club of Virginia tour, not once but twice. Marianne taught Sunday School and held multiple leadership positions at First United Methodist Church (FUMC) in Hampton, but her most rewarding work at FUMC was serving for 20 years as the chairman of the annual Candy Cane Lane Bazaar.
Her other joys were traveling with Hal, playing golf, bridge, and tennis with friends in the local area and in Naples, FL, where they spent many winters as snowbirds.
Marianne was a beautiful, caring, and gracious woman with a welcoming smile and infectious laugh. She was always thinking of others and incredibly generous to family, friends, and strangers.
The family would like to recognize the wonderful care providers at Arden Courts (The Memory Center) and Promedica Hospice Services in Virginia Beach for their loving and compassionate care of Marianne during the final years of her life. A visitation will be held at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home (1457 Independence Blvd., Virginia Beach) on Friday, April 14th from 6 to 8 pm. A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church in Hampton (110 E. Queen St.) on Saturday, April 15th at 2 pm.
Donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org