Mary Brooke Estes

Mary Brooke Steele Estes, 92, of Winchester, VA, formerly of Petersburg, VA, passed away on Monday, February 15, 2021. Born in Greenwood, Mississippi, she was the daughter of the late Matthew Weaver and Mary Hunter Steele; and was also preceded in death by her husband, George Colquitt Estes, an Episcopal minister; and two brothers, M.W. Steele, Jr. and Edwin Hunter Steele. Mrs. Estes attended Randolph Macon Women’s College, where she was awarded a BA degree in English. She retired from Hampton City Public Schools as a librarian after many years of dedicated service. She had been a member at both St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Christ & Grace Episcopal Church in Petersburg, VA. Mrs. Estes lived a life of service to God and to others through the church, as an adult literacy tutor, election poll worker, organizer of food bank and clothes closet ministries, and many other charitable activities and acts of kindness. She loved singing in the church choir and teaching Sunday school, and served on the church vestry. Among her accomplishments was the founding of the Trinity School for poor children in Cali, Colombia, when Mr. Estes was the pastor of the local Episcopal church in Cali. She loved traveling around the world and was an avid reader; Scrabble player; and skillful solver of acrostic, crossword, and other challenging word games and puzzles. Mrs. Estes enjoyed playing tennis, and would arrange games of Charades and Fictionary at the many holiday meals that she hosted for friends and family. She is fondly remembered for her wit, hospitality, and zest for life. Mrs. Estes is survived by her daughter, Mary Hunter Estes Barrat; two sons, George Colquitt Estes, Jr., and wife, Nelly, and Matthew Weaver Steele Estes, and wife, Mary Ellen; seven grandchildren; one great-grandson; and numerous nieces and nephews. A graveside funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 25, 2021, at Blandford Cemetery, with the Rev. Robin Teasley, officiating. The family is being served by the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The READ Center, an adult literacy center, at https://xreadcenter.org , in memory of Mary Brooke Estes. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com