WILMINGTON — Maxine Brilhart McMillen, born January 28, 1929, to Wilbert and Roxie Brilhart of Plumville, PA, passed away peacefully at home on January 31, 2022.
Maxine is survived by daughter Suzanne and husband Philip Goerger, daughter Annette and husband Tim Brooks, grandchildren Sam (Stacey) Goerger, Ben (Candice) Goerger and Madison (Adam) Frye, four great-grandchildren, and many adoring nieces and nephews.
She is predeceased by her beloved husband of 70 years Bill McMillen, her son David James McMillen, her parents, and three siblings.
Maxine loved God, her family, and her many dear friends. She embraced life fully, always finding the good, even on the darkest days. Some have said she wore rose-colored glasses. She enjoyed time spent with friends and family, the beach, playing bridge, her prayer group and an occasional Jack Daniels (not to mention shopping).
She had a particular eye for home decoration and loved primitive antiques which she and Dave and later Annette built into a business with a series of retail shops wherever she and Bill were living at the time.
Maxine shared her time and talents giving back to her community through a myriad of small acts of kindness, her work as a Stephen Minister, a hospice volunteer, and founder of the Leap of Faith food pantry at Hampstead United Methodist Church where she and Bill were very active members during the time they lived in Hampstead.
Maxine will be remembered for her beautiful blue eyes, her delightful wit, her ability to make life-long friendships everywhere she went, and her epic cheesecakes.
A celebration of Maxine’s beautiful life will be held Saturday, February 5, 11:00 am, at Harbor United Methodist Church, 4853 Masonboro Loop Road in Wilmington.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Maxine’s memory may be made to Methodist Home for Children, 1041 Washington Street, Raleigh, NC 27605, Harbor United Methodist Church or charity of your choosing.
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Maxine McMillen, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
