Mary Maxine Alexander

Mary Maxine Alexander, age 102, of Hockessin, DE, passed away peacefully on September 8, 2026, with her daughters by her side.

Born in 1924, she was one of seven children of James Lee Manion and Margaret (Morgan) Manion of New Martinsville, WV.

Upon graduation from New Martinsville High School in 1941, Maxine went to Business School and was a bank officer in Parkersburg, WV.  It was there she met the love of her life, Peter Alexander, on a blind date.  They married 6 months later and she shifted her focus to raising a family.

Along with raising 5 children, she found time to volunteer at the local voting locations, serve as a board member and treasurer of the Home of the Merciful Rest (Kentmere), and be a docent at Winterthur Museum.  She enjoyed golfing and on a rainy day found her way into a bridge game at the country club.  It was there that she found her true passion, becoming a life master, a bronze life master, and a silver life master in Bridge. That feat included travelling with her bridge partners, often with their husbands and golf clubs in tow.

Maxine will be remembered for her quiet strength, devotion to church and family, her smile, laughter, love, and always making others feel loved and welcome.

She is survived by her daughters Margaret Hall of Elkton, MD, Elizabeth Schowe of Chadds Ford, PA, and Nancy Nance (William) of Nags Head, NC, grandchildren Ryan VanSluyters, Katie Hall, Jennifer Harbison, Mara Schowe, Randy Nance, Maddie Nance, and great-grandchildren Sydney, Rhea, B.D., Charlie, and Evie.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 75 years, Peter M. Alexander, her sisters and brothers Virginia (Potts), Robert L., William Paul, Marian (Griffin), Monica (Kester), and Joseph R., her oldest daughter Lydia (Van Sluyters) and by her son Peter Jr.