It is with great sadness that the family of Marie Lee Cumbie, 55, of Blountsville, Ala., announce that she passed away in a tragic car accident on February 26, 2022.

She will be greatly missed by her daughters Whitney Maria Bickerstaff (John) and Sarah Elizabeth Cumbie; grandsons Damian and Jeremiah Askew; parents, Clara and Wayne Lee; sisters, Stephanie Gates (Allen), Christy Hartle (Joe), Brandy Salter (David); Candice Lee; brother Christopher Lee (Annette); and many nieces and nephews, family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Patrick Robert Cumbie.

Born October 7, 1966, in Ensley, Ala., Marie grew up there and graduated from Ensley High School. She went on to college where she studied Mathematics, Engineering and Physics to earn her B.S. Marie loved teaching. She taught for many years in the Birmingham Public School System and later at the Sacred Heart School in Cullman.

She also enjoyed working with her hands – she made jewelry, painted beautiful decorative eggshells and crocheted. She was a dedicated member of St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church and put her time and energy into cooking and helping to make their Food Festival successful each year.

She and Patrick enjoyed travel adventures together. A few of their favorite trips were camping in the Great Smoky Mountains, hiking at the Grand Canyon and exploring San Francisco. Marie loved the company of animals - especially cats - but she was also devoted to her strong network of online friends as well as those she'd known through the years.

Visitation will take place from 4-6 p.m. (CST) on Thursday, March 3, at Bell Forestdale Chapel. The Panahida Service will follow at 6 p.m. (CST)

The Funeral Liturgy Service will be at 9 a.m. (CST) on Friday, March 4, at St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Brookside.

A graveside service will follow at 4 p.m., (EST) at the Monastery of the Glorious Ascension Cemetery, 5052 S. Dixie Highway, Resaca, Ga. 30735.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the fund for Marie and Patrick's daughters at Citizens Bank in Cullman in the names of Whitney Bickerstaff and Sarah Cumbie.

"When she set her mind to something, there was no stopping her. Period."  - Anonymous