Marie Elizabeth Newberry

It is with heavy hearts we share that our beautiful Marie Elizabeth Newberry is finally at peace. Her valiant battle with cancer ended Monday April 27th 2026 at 8:55 pm at The James Cancer Hospital in Columbus Ohio. In her final moments on this earth, she was surrounded by her loving family: her daughters Ruby Lee Williams and Lucille Marie Williams, her devoted partner Stephen John Williams, her sister Lucille Lepinsky, and her nephew Eric Lepinsky -- Many other friends and family called to share their goodbyes, “see you laters”, and wish her well as she transcended.

Marie lived in Athens Ohio, primarily at the Laurels of Athens for her final year where she worked diligently and stubbornly to regain her strength while battling her cancer. Three years ago, Marie was diagnosed with small cell cancer in her throat, which eventually spread to her liver. Throughout those years, she resiliently handled many associated health complications including a tracheostomy, feeding tube, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, countless appointments, and hours of physical and occupational therapy. She fought so incredibly hard. Her beloved family is beyond grateful she is no longer suffering and finally at peace.

Our radiant Marie was born in Arlington Virginia on May 11th 1962. Her parents, Jessie and Lucille “Goggy”, raised her outside of Vienna Virginia along with her siblings John, Elizabeth “Ebet”, Anna, and Lucille “Lulu”. Growing up, she roamed around the neighborhood on banana bikes with her siblings, strutted around the local country club, and golfed on the golf course behind their home. A fond memory she often shared was getting a hole-in-one in high school; her proud father Jessie bought everyone in the country club a round of drinks in celebration.

After high school, she pursued school in photography in connection to her father, who owned a camera shop down the road. Shortly after arriving in New York City, she walked into a modeling agency. One month later, she was flown to Europe and began her career as an international model. Highlights of her modeling career included countless magazines, print ads, runway walks, and videos. Marie is most known for her appearance in the music video “Simply Irresistible" by Robert Palmer -- Beyond fitting for stunning Marie. You can find her easily: she’s the most tan.

During her modeling career, she dated doctors, rich “assholes”, and rock stars, most notably Aerosmith's guitar player Rick Dufay, who she dated and roadied with for eight years, while playing a role in the early life of his daughter: actress Minka Kelly. Marie has shared countless almost unbelievable stories during modeling and rockstar era: including many hours partying with Steven Tyler, dinners with ACDC, passing the Beatles in a Staircase in London, and accidentally walking in on Stevie Nicks engaging in explicit activities in a recording booth.

Despite her exciting dating roster, an artist from Southeastern Ohio took her walking in the woods, morel mushroom hunting, and stole her heart. After her modeling career she returned back to the U.S. to delve into her career as an artist, particularly painting and glass bead making. She traveled around the West and Southwest, where she met her partner Stephen Williams at a bead show in Tucson, Arizona. Marie always shared she fell in love with Stephen when he took her for adventures in the hills and hollers of the sleepy Appalachian foothills. They settled down outside of Athens Ohio, on a 20 acre farm in a little village called Snowville. There, they would raise their two beautiful daughters: running around barefoot, playing in creeks, arranging wild flower bouquets, creating art together, and living simply and happily surrounded by love.

Though money often seemed to be a struggle, Stephen and Marie shared early success in their art careers and other endeavors. Stephen ran a glassblowing studio out of the garage and took lead on the vegetable garden while Marie’s domain remained the flower gardens and running a homemade candle and soap business with Kristy Bales called “Succulent Sundays.” To earn extra money later in her career, Marie worked hard as an iconic waitress at “Stephens” a fine restaurant in Athens owned by close family friend: Stephen Mesina. In the final era of her career, Marie followed her passion of flower arranging as a florist at Krogers in Athens.

Throughout her life, Marie was known as a fiercely devoted mother, who worked effortlessly to provide for her children: the most important things in her life. Marie also deeply loved music. Some of her favorite artists include Joni Mithcel, Rickie Lee Jones, India Arie, Jewel, Erika Badu, Sade, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, White Stripes, David Byrne, and Blondie. Marie was always known to dance with whimsy and effortless confidence. In the final years of her life, she became an avid fan of board games and card games, most notably the infamous board game Wingspan. During her final years of hospitalization and time living in the rehabilitation wing of The Laurels of Athens, Marie, Stephen, and her children played COUNTLESS hours of Wingspang together.

Marie was diagnosed with throat cancer during the summer of 2022, which led to many health complications including damage from radiation therapy, a tracheostomy, and later metastasized to stage four liver cancer during the spring of 2025. Marie was known for being resilient and stubborn, so she fought hard for as much longevity as possible, regardless of her terminal diagnosis. Her final year was filled with love -- Her devoted partner Stephen, battling cancer himself, spent 8-10 hours daily by her side as her primary caretaker. Her daughters visited at times monthly, to share their unconditional love and savor as much quality time as possible.

After having a good day April 24th 2026, Marie fell asleep peacefully and never woke up. Her daughters and partner were able to be by her side in her final moments on this physical earth -- During which, we played her favorite songs, held her close, wept, and warmly encouraged her to move towards her much desired state of eternal peace.

Marie is predeceased by her father Jessie Newberry, her mother Lucille Newberry “Goggy”, and her brother John Newberry “Bubba”. Marie was survived by her sisters Elizabeth Smith, Lucille Newberry Lepinsky “Lulu”, and Anna Murphy. She was also survived by her devoted partner Stephen Williams, and her loving daughters Ruby Lee and Lucille Marie Williams. There are countless other families and loved ones not listed, due to our massive families and communities who loved Marie dearly.

Marie’s final wish was to be cremated, with her ashes lovingly scattered in the Outer Banks North Carolina, as well as other beautiful places. In honoring her life, we warmly invite close friends and family to join us for a week or long weekend of laughter, dancing, shared memories, and togetherness in a place that brought joy and peace to Marie and our family.

Marie's formal Celebration of Life for will be held in the South Outer Banks the week of September 12th to 19th. The formal celebration will be Friday September 18th at 6:00PM, with a virtual option: Zoom Link. To register for the celebration of life: RSVP here. To donate towards Marie’s celebration of life and final wishes: donate here. For any other information regarding the celebration of life, or to donate directly without a transaction fee, contact her daughter Ruby (ruby21williams@gmail.com).

Our beautiful mother, partner, friend, daughter, and lover of life Marie Elizabeth Newberry is at peace, and no longer suffering. Knowing Marie, she would want those she has left behind, for now, to remember by living life to the absolute fullest -- Inspired by her respect of beauty, her wild creativity, love of adventure, and her fierce devotion to the ones she loves.