Elizabeth Faye Wickersham

Elizabeth Faye Wickersham, of McLean, Virginia, passed away peacefully on October 28, 2025 at age 85. She served in leadership roles through much of her life with Welcome to London, Welcome to Washington, Welcome Clubs International, Capital Speakers Club and Duke University. She is fondly remembered for her grace, elegance and warmth.

Faye was born in 1940 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to Harvey Roseman and Johnsie Roseman (née Johnsie Faye Humphreys). In 1950, the family moved to Arlington, Virginia, where Faye graduated from Washington-Lee High School in 1958. She graduated from Miami University with a bachelor of science in education and earned a master's degree in education at the University of Maryland.

Faye married Warren Wickersham, a young Pentagon lawyer, in 1965. Faye taught home economics at her high school alma mater while Warren joined the D.C. office of an international law firm.

In 1968, Faye gave birth to their first son, and soon afterward the family moved to Beirut, Lebanon, where Warren opened an office for the firm. The couple enjoyed life in "the Paris of the Middle East" and made many lifelong friends. They had a second son in 1970. In 1971 they moved to McLean, Virginia, where Faye focused on raising their sons and engaged in volunteer activities such as serving as a docent at the Corcoran Gallery of Art.

The family moved to London, England in 1977 so that Warren could open another office for the firm. Faye soon founded the St. John's Wood Women's Club, joined the Junior League, served on the parents' association at the American School in London and founded London Zoo Friends. In 1983, Faye helped found Welcome to London International Club and later served for a year as its chair.

In 1988, now with an empty nest, Faye and Warren returned to McLean. Faye continued her career in women's groups, serving as president of Welcome to Washington International Club (1992-1994), president of Welcome Clubs International (1996-2000) and president of Capital Speakers Club of Washington, D.C. (2000-2001). She remained an active member of these clubs for the rest of her life. She was a founding member of the advisory board of Sarah P. Duke Gardens of Duke University, serving three six-year terms. Faye and Warren spent many happy years together, enjoying the company of their friends and family and continuing to travel the world, until Warren's death in 2019.

The last years of Faye's life were made happy by being shared with Charles A. Schmitz, who is appreciated by the family and his many friends for his intellect, character and humor.

Faye is survived by her partner of six years, Charles; her two sons, Mark (Kristin) Wickersham and Ian (Sara Beach) Wickersham; her brother, David (Pamela) Roseman; and her six grandchildren: Jocelyn Wickersham, Diana Wickersham, Vivian Wickersham, Alexandra Wickersham, Mavis Wickersham and Fiona Wickersham.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations in Faye's honor to Doctors Without Borders (https://give.doctorswithoutborders.org) or the Salvation Army - NCAC (https://give.virginiasalvationarmy.org).