Mary Anne Walters died peacefully with her family at her side on July 8, 2024, at 80 years of age. After a long battle with dementia and multiple sclerosis, she goes to be reunited with memories of a beautiful life. Mary Anne was married to Michael Andrew Walters for 54 years. Beloved daughter of the late John and Bernadette DeWilde, she was preceded in death by her son, Edward DeWilde Walters (1972-2019). She is survived by daughters Denise Zubrod (Matthew), Lara Hoffmans (Aaron), daughter-in-law Tara Walters, and sister Johnnie DeWilde Carey (Jeffrey). She was grandmother to Liam, Owen, and Conor Walters; Reagan Hoffmans; Christina, Bode and Finn Zubrod; and honorary grandmother to niece Elizabeth Carey. She is further remembered by many nieces, nephews, other family, and friends.  

Mary Anne was born in Atlanta, Georgia on September 16, 1943. A military brat to her Navy Commander father, Mary Anne and her family lived in South Bend, Indiana; Dallas, Texas; Belle Harbor, New York; Brooklyn, New York; Kwajalein Island, Marshall Islands; Seattle, Washington; and Davenport, Iowa. Mary Anne attended high school at Holy Names Academy in Seattle, where she graduated as salutatorian. She was a proud double Marquette alumna, with bachelor's and master’s degrees in biology.  

Mary Anne met Michael on a blind date at a Notre Dame football game. Twice. True story. Two different games. After being paired by the same friends for a second time, they were married in 1969 at the Lady Chapel in the Notre Dame Basilica. She worked as a research biologist for Merck in New Jersey before becoming a full-time mother to Denise, Ed, and Lara. In 1998, she and Michael relocated to Skidaway Island in Savannah, Georgia, to escape Northern winters.  

An avid swimmer, she introduced her daughters to synchronized swimming. She coached the younger cohort on her daughters’ competitive team and made spangly bathing suits and headpieces for many national competitions. She could still perform a ballet leg into her 70s. 

Mary Anne loved period dramas, good food, good wine, and visiting with family. She decided to teach herself Japanese and left notes for her baffled family using kanji. She also loved the many, many feral cats she trapped, vaccinated, fixed, and fed — Mary Anne was a friend to all things furry. Her Catholic faith was important to Mary Anne, and her novenas were known to have momentous impact. She fiercely loved Notre Dame but could not watch the Irish unless they were two touchdowns ahead. She could not be prouder that all three of her children were Notre Dame alumni (1992, 1995, and 1997) like her father (BS, 1934) and her husband (MS, 1965).

Visitation at Fox and Weeks on July 26, from 5 PM to 7 PM. Funeral Mass at St. James the Less Catholic Church, July 27, at 10 AM. Luncheon to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Brain Foundation are appreciated. Heartfelt thanks to the caregivers and staff at Hospice Savannah.

Fox and Weeks

7200 Hodgson Memorial Dr, Savannah, GA 31406

St. James the Less Catholic Church

8412 Whitefield Avenue, Savannah GA 31406