Marian Joanna Radcliff

Marian Joanna Wood Radcliff, 86, of La Plata, MD, died peacefully on November 7th, 2024. Born at home in Pisgah, MD, on December 10, 1937, she was the eldest daughter of the late Joseph Morgan Wood, Sr. and Dorothy Gertrude Rhodes. She attended Indian Head Elementary and Lackey High School through ninth grade, Archbishop Neale High School tenth through twelfth grade, and graduated on June 9th, 1955, with 21 classmates. She worked for the C&P Telephone Company a short while, started a family, had four children of her own, and cared for more than 35 others who called her Aunt Marian or Nanny. Most importantly, she enjoyed gathering with family and friends for special occasions like birthdays, cookouts, and holidays. She truly loved all things Christmas. Her Catholic faith was very important to her and her way of life. She was a member of Sacred Heart Church in La Plata, MD, since 1956; served on the Parish Council for a number of years; in 1967, joined the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin at Sacred Heart Church, was active in all aspects of the organization: Membership, Vice Prefect, and Prefect for 23 years; chaired and co-chaired dances, bazaars, bake sales, etc.; promoting devotions to the Blessed Mother; making crafts, baking cookies and cakes; cleaning the church, and the flower beds there and at the cemetery, plus helped cut the grass at the cemetery for about five years. She received the Good Samaritan Award from the parish in 1993, in recognition of outstanding service to the parish community. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Donald Radcliff, Sr.; sister, Mary Rebecca Grimes; brother, Joseph Morgan Wood, Jr., brothers-in-law Ronald L. Bowie, Sr., Thomas Welch, & Ralph W. Hancock, Sr.; and sisters-in-law Carolyn Wood and Shirley Wood. She is survived by her children Joseph Donald Radcliff, Jr. (Lesley), Mark Douglas Radcliff (Teresa), Michael Allen Radcliff, and Deirdre Elizabeth Radcliff; her grandchildren Melanie Lynn and Mary Katherine Radcliff, Garrett Lee Radcliff, and Christopher Morgan Higgs; great grandson Blake Anthony Higgs; soon to be a great great granddaughter; sisters Carol Ann Hancock and Linda Lee Welch; brother-in-law Donald Ray Grimes, Sr. A visitation will be held on Monday, November 18, 2024 from 4:00PM to 7:00PM with Prayers at 7:00PM at the Raymond Funeral Service, P.A., 5635 Washington Avenue, La Plata, Maryland 20646. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 beginning at 10AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 201 St. Mary’s Avenue, La Plata, Maryland 20646. Interment to follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Marian requests memorials in her name be made to the Sacred Heart Church Cemetery Fund, 205 St. Mary's Avenue, La Plata, Maryland 20646.

Marian Joanna Radcliff

December 10, 1937 - November 7, 2024