Marlene Beverley Braver Wilks

Marlene Beverley Braver Wilks passed away on May 12, 2015. She was born in Richmond, VA on August 2, 1937 to the late Charles and Blanche Barney Braver. Marlene grew up in Petersburg, VA, graduating from Petersburg High School in 1954. She attended UNC– Greensboro, and graduated with an English degree in 1958. After college, Marlene taught high school briefly in Norfolk, VA until she married and devoted the next 20 years raising her family and becoming part of several civic organizations in Norfolk, including the Women’s American ORT, a charter member of the Virginia Opera Association, and a past president of the Ohef Sholom Temple Sisterhood. Marlene was an avid reader and proficient in the art of letter writing, never allowing an opportunity to pass by without either a quick note or several handwritten pages to the recipient. Marlene was outgoing and never failed at making herself comfortable in a crowd. Her inspiration, love of history, music, literature and politics has been passed down to her children to instill these values to their children and the next generations to come. Marlene is survived her sons, David B. Wilks (Alison) of Fairfax, VA and Reiss F. Wilks (Carey) of Richmond, VA, her daughter, Jennifer Wilks Boyce (Robert) of VA Beach, VA and her uncle, Daniel Barney of New York, NY. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Alex, Aaron, Tyler, Sidney and Ben. A graveside service will be held Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 11 a.m. in Brith Achim Cemetery in Petersburg, VA. A memorial celebration will be held at Beth Sholom Home on Sunday, May 24, 2015 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Marlene’s memory to the Beth Sholom Home located at 6401 Auburn Dr., Virginia Beach, VA 23464.