Mary Virginia Burgess-Ogden

Mary Virginia Burgess-Ogden, of Silesia, MD, passed away peacefully on December 29th, 2022 at the age of 93. Mary was born on September 29, 1929 in Washington D.C. to Lillian and Fritz Adler. She was raised on a farm near Ft. Washington. The eldest of three, she played the violin and enjoyed sports of all kinds. 

Mary attended Oxon Hill High School and was proud to be a member of all of the girls’ sports teams and school clubs. Mary graduated as the valedictorian, senior class president, and a member of the honor society. 

After high school, she attended University of Maryland and gained a B.S. in Physical Education in 1950. Mary followed in her mother’s footsteps and became a teacher of Physical Education, returning to Oxon Hill. She taught for almost 14 years at Frederick Sasser Jr. High School, among other schools. In 1965, Mary and Wylie Jr. welcomed their son, Wylie III into the world. He was the joy of their lives. 

After being a mother and housewife for years, she returned to school to get a master’s in business education. In 1973, Mary began teaching shorthand and typing at Frederick Douglass High School. She retired in 1983. Shortly after, Mary Virginia married her second husband, James Ogden Jr., in 1984 and moved to Calvert County. 

Outside of work, she gave back to the community by volunteering at her church, Jesus the Divine Word, and at Calvert Hospice. Mary cherished her time in Alpha Delta Kappa, an international teachers' organization, as well. She was a Terrapin Club member for 25 years, and a University of Maryland football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball season ticket holder. In her later years, Mary enjoyed spending time with her son Wylie and her two grandchildren. She was a proud alumnus of the University of Maryland, a passionate teacher, and a loving mother and wife. 

Mary Virginia was preceded in death by her brother, Fritz Adler; husbands, Wylie Burgess Jr. and James Ogden Jr.; and son, Wylie Burgess III. Mary is survived by her brother, Francis Adler; grandchildren, Erica Burgess and Steven Burgess; stepchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and their families. 

Visitation will be held at Lee Funeral Homes at 6633 Old Alexandria Ferry Rd, Clinton, MD, 20735 at 10 am on January 12th, 2023 with a funeral service following at 11 am. Interment will be at 12:30 pm on the same day at Resurrection Cemetery at 8000 Woodyard Rd, Clinton, MD 20735. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mary’s memory to Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Washington at 924 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20001, or to the Alpha Delta Kappa Foundation at 1615 West 92nd Street, Kansas City, MO 64114.