Mary Anne McCarthy Silvers

Mary Anne McCarthy Silvers, beloved Mom, Nanny, cousin, and friend, died peacefully at her Gloucester County home on August 21, 2023. Mary Anne was born on October 31, 1938, in Northampton County, Virginia. She is survived by her daughter, Robin Hogg Huddle of Fredericksburg, Virginia, son James Daniel (Danny) Hogg of Newport News, Virginia, granddaughters Madeline Huddle of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Meredith Huddle of Washington D.C., along with numerous cousins and many close friends. Mary Anne was preceded in death by her father, Edward Andrew McCarthy, her mother, Ava Antoinette (Toni) Horner McCarthy, husband, Edward John Silvers and stepson, Edward Roderick (Rick) Silvers.
Mary Anne grew up in Cape Charles, Virginia, where her parents owned and operated McCarthy's Hotel. After her father passed away and her mother remarried a traveling salesman, Mary Anne spent most of her childhood living with extended family in greater Hampton Roads and as far north as Massachusetts, often traveling unaccompanied to the next destination by bus or train. By the time that she entered high school in Gloucester County, she had attended seven schools. She was preparing for another move when, much to her good fortune, she was invited to live with Wyndam and Lida Ruth Hogg, whose children, Herman, Carolyn and Charles, were schoolmates and friends of hers. This proved to be a life-changing break. Several years later, she married Herman, and the young couple built a home on Hogg family property on the York River. Although the marriage ended in 1967, Mary Anne was forever grateful to her "adopted family" for giving her the stability that she longed for as a child, and for also giving her the opportunity to finish high school in Gloucester along with her many good friends.
Mary Anne went on to marry Edward Silvers in 1969. The couple relocated to Newport News, Virginia, where they resided during their nearly 41 years of marriage. Mary Anne loved her home and became the consummate host. She was an amazing cook and entertained often. She was extremely close to her Horner family aunts, uncles, and cousins. One of her many "claims to fame" was the annual Horner family Thanksgiving gathering at which she would nearly single-handedly prepare dinner for up to 45 family members. Her home became the "go-to" spot for many gatherings and always included great food, a lot of laughter, and love.
After retiring from the Naval Weapon Station in Yorktown, Virginia, Mary Anne kept busy by spending as much time as possible with her grandchildren, reading as much as possible, and by diving into many various crafting activities, all while making more friends and joining various clubs, such as her quilt club and the "Stitch and Bitch Club". She particularly loved creating Halloween-themed crafts, as she enjoyed poking fun at herself for being a bit of a "witch" because of her birthday.
Several years after Edward's passing, Mary Anne built a cottage on the York River in Gloucester next to the property where she and Herman had built. It was very clear that Gloucester was the place she really wanted to be. After 48 years of living in Newport News, she said that she was "back home". She reconnected with many of her high school friends and hosted numerous luncheons and gatherings for family and friends in her new home.
Mary Anne had many wonderful qualities. She was loving, thoughtful, caring, generous, creative, practical, and had a terrific sense of humor. Throughout her life and during the last years of declining health, she dealt with her challenges with poise and grace. She approached each obstacle by making a plan (she loved to make a plan) and then acting on it. She was as self-reliant as she could be, and never put herself first. She loved and lived life to its fullest, despite adversity, and she left this world in the manner that she wished for-peacefully and at home. We should all be so lucky.
We know that words cannot adequately express the love that she had for her children and grandchildren. We are incredibly grateful for her guidance, support, and boundless love. We will forever love and miss you.
The family would like to extend our sincere appreciation to all her dear friends (including Joyce and Ron Duke and Barbara and Jim Stevens) who selflessly gave of their time. She often would tell us how blessed she was to have so many friends who truly cared about her, and she cared deeply for them, too. We'd also like to thank the doctors and nurses at Riverside Hospital and Riverside Hospice. Per her wishes, which she expressed countless times, there will not be a formal service. She did say a "small party" in her remembrance would be fine with her, and a date for that is to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation in her memory be made to a charity of your choice.
Services under the direction of Hogg Funeral Home.