Marie Belgrave was born on August 10, 1970, in Queens, NY, to Phillip McRae, Jr. and Rosemarie McRae. As a child, Marie was very energetic. She loved playing outside, and one of her favorite fun activities was jumping rope. She got along well with everyone growing up and was always a team player. Marie also served as the assistant coach for her sister’s track team, the QB Gazelles, for many years.

Marie attended school in NYC from elementary through High School. She attended Junior High 8 (JH8) and held the role of cheerleading squad captain. Everyone knew Marie as “Sunny Delight” because of her love for inspiring others to succeed and her ability to make everyone’s day brighter. Marie graduated with honors from Hillcrest High School, where she received her high school diploma.

Marie met Gary in 1985 while strolling through the park in Lefrak City, NY. They began their relationship in 1987, and later that year, they would welcome their daughter, Naomi, together in October. After seven years of dating, Marie and Gary made it official and tied the knot on September 30, 1994. The two were married for 26 years. In 1998, Marie and Gary relocated to Virginia with their family and built a life in Fredericksburg, VA.

Marie worked in sales, which fit her personality as she loved to talk and was a people person. She worked at the Fredericksburg Geico office for 17 years, where she excelled in her career. Marie received many awards for her hard work and was the top seller many times, and as a result, was rewarded with many trips. In 2018 she decided to end her career at Geico. In addition to her work at Geico, she also sold insurance for Prudential, and she took on the entrepreneur title when she decided to work in sales for TRISTAR.

Marie was solid in her faith and beliefs. She was a member of Faith Christian Center World Outreach Church in Fredericksburg, VA, where she was baptized in 2001 and later ordained as a Deaconess in September 2007. Marie also served as a greeter and later became the head greeter. Marie continued to allow God to use her in the In-Touch Ministry, and as a result, God used Marie to reach many souls for the Kingdom of God.

Marie was known for her kindness towards anyone who was in her presence. She loved people and was warm to all, even if she met you for the first time. Marie loved to talk, it was one of her favorite things to do, but most of all, her greatest passion was spending time with her family and friends, having cookouts, and eating crabs and shrimp. She loved to go shopping, especially at Gabes and Walmart; you could always find her browsing through the racks there.

In March 2021, Marie was diagnosed with COVID-19 and fought a two-month battle with the illness. Marie departed this life on Monday, May 17, 2021, at the age of 50. She was preceded in death by her father, Phillip McRae, Jr. She leaves precious memories behind to be cherished by her husband, Gary Belgrave of Fredericksburg, VA; her daughter, Naomi Belgrave of Fredericksburg, VA; step-children Jessica Belgrave of Connecticut and Keajee Jones of Florida; grandchildren Nashuan Belgrave and Ava Jones. Marie also leaves behind her mother, Rosemarie McRae of Fredericksburg, VA; her sisters, Antoinette Watson of Queens, NY, and Tasshima (Mike) Wickliff of Fredericksburg, VA. Her nieces, Sharelle Watson, Taquana (Kirk) Thompson, Marisa Fields; nephews, Rodney Watson and Elijah Wickliff.. She also leaves behind her great-niece and nephew Alannah and Kamari Fields. Marie “Sunny Delight” Belgrave will be missed dearly by a countless number of family and friends.