Marcella H Bordley

Obituary Marcella Handy Bordley of Grasonville, MD passed away Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at the Barnette Center in Centreville, MD, at the age of 91. She was born in Grasonville on March 1, 1931, to the late Stanley R. Handy and Mable B. Handy, but her birth wasn’t recorded until March 2, 1931. She became an avid reader at age five, attended school in Queen Anne’s County, and graduated from Kennard High School in 1947. At Kennard, she was influenced and encouraged by her teachers which helped to set the course for her future teaching career. Marcella enrolled at the Maryland State Teachers College at Bowie, now known as Bowie University, and received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1951. She continued her education at the University of Pennsylvania, University of Maryland, Morgan State University, and Washington College, and obtained an Advanced Professional Certificate. Marcella spent the first 13 years of her teaching career in Pocomoke City in Worcester County, MD, teaching second grade at Stephen Long Elementary School. She held many fond memories of those early experiences, and in 1990 was honored at the Stephen Long Guild’s Annual Banquet held in Ocean City, MD. She returned to Queen Anne’s County in 1964 to teach first grade at Kennard Elementary School in Centreville, MD. When the County schools integrated in 1967, Marcella was selected to teach first grade at Centreville Elementary School. During the 1991-1992 school year, she was selected as the first “Teacher of the Year” for Queen Anne’s County. She completed 41 enjoyable and fulfilling years as a teacher in the State of Maryland and retired in June 1992. Marcella was a member of Bryan’s United Methodist Church and served as the Finance Chairperson for many years. Her civic and community service included: member of the Governor’s Committee on the Hiring of the Handicapped, Chesterwye Center, Inc. Board of Directors, Queen Anne’s County Chapter of the American Red Cross Board of Directors, Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Life Member of the Maryland Congress of Parents and Teachers Inc., the Storytime-on-Wheels program reading to children in licensed home daycare centers, and the Grasonville Community Center. She was married to Elliott Bordley for 51 years before his death in July 2012. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Alfred R. Handy, stepchildren Bonita Turner and David Bordley, goddaughter, Pamela Spence, several sisters-in-law, and brothers-in-law. Marcella leaves to cherish loving memories: two sisters, Frances “Pat” Handy and Deborah (Charles) Brown; sister-friend, Shirley (Montro) Wright; goddaughter and niece Mildred (Robert) Seals; godson and nephew, Kevin (Alethia) Handy; son-in-law, Robert Turner, granddaughters Ginger and Keshia Turner; nephews, Alfred Larrie (Margarette) Handy, William (Rochelle) Turner, Donald (Lorraine) Handy and Charles (Martha) Heath; nieces, Charnessa Brown, Gretchen (Quincy) McKethan, Cynthia Heath, Jacqueline Wright and Denise (Roy) Hardy; devoted cousins, Van Whittington and Arlene Roberts, and other relatives; dear friends, Ruth Butler, Ruth King, Deborah Scott, Genevie Kennedy, Genevieve Doughty, and Charlotte Cuffie.

Marcella H Bordley

March 2, 1931 - September 14, 2022