1944
Maggie
2022
Maggie Anne Wickersham
April 26, 1944 — October 30, 2022
Maggie Anne Wickersham, our beloved wife and mother, accepted her last flight assignment in this life on October 30, 2022. This final journey is a fitting pinnacle for a selfless and loving woman who sought the best in life. Its rewards include a reunion with family and loved ones long departed and a view that can’t be beaten.
Born in Waynesboro, Tennessee in 1944 to proud parents Maggie Pearl Devers and Jim Devers, Anne was one of 10 children – 7 girls and 3 boys. Growing up in the family home on York Street, there was no shortage of love in the Devers’ home. Anne, better known to her family as Maggie, enjoyed playing with her sisters, brothers, and friends, surrounded by the quiet, bucolic countryside of Wayne County.
In early 1967, Anne packed her bags and left Tennessee to fulfill her dream of becoming a stewardess for American Airlines. After seven long weeks in training at American’s “Stewardess College,” Anne graduated in the Class of 1967-14 along with 47 other newly-minted flight attendants. After earning her wings, Anne was assigned to American’s base at Boston. “When I got my first base assignment, I couldn’t believe it was Boston,” Anne once recalled. “I immediately phoned my mom and, in a distressed voice, told her ‘They’re sending me to Boston!’” When her mom asked what’s so bad about Boston, Anne cried out “The Boston Strangler lives there!” Fortunately, Boston turned out to be one of Anne’s favorite bases and was the start of a richly rewarding career. Among her most memorable passengers were Judy Garland, Raymond Burr, Debbie Reynolds, and Lawrence Welk. In the years to come, Anne would be promoted to base supervisor at National Airport in Washington, D.C., overseeing hundreds of DCA-based flight attendants.
One day in the late 60’s, Anne was assigned to work a routine flight to Chicago. In the flightdeck that day was a young, wide-eyed First Officer from East Springfield, Pennsylvania named Phil. As passengers finished boarding the BAC-111, Anne noticed the overhead bins had quickly filled, leaving several first class passengers nowhere to store their luggage. Always the problem solver, Anne promptly opened the cockpit door and placed the extra suitcases on the floor behind the pilots. “Bins are all full in first,” she said to Phil with a wink and smile, “So these bags are going in here with you!” That routine flight marked the beginning of a lifelong love and companionship for Anne and Phil that spanned more than 55 years.
The young couple would later transfer to American’s base in Buffalo, NY, where their love steadily evolved into a devoted marriage. It was there that Anne and Phil bought their first house together in East Amherst, NY. Soon after, they started a family with their daughter, Jennifer, and first son, Jeffrey. Their family continued to grow after moving to Dallas with the birth of their second son, Brian. Anne devoted her life to her family and her three children – her pride and joy.
Anne was somewhat of an enigma. It could be difficult for strangers to win her over, but once you did, you had a devoted friend for life. She enjoyed socializing yet was intensely private. In fact, she’d be mortified we’ve spent this much time talking about her! She had an eye for finer tastes in life, but only if they lasted. She was a wine connoisseur who enjoyed Trader Joe’s Two-Buck Chuck, Downton Abbey, Julie Andrews and The Sound of Music.
In March 2022, Anne was diagnosed with cancer. True to form, she met this challenge head-on and never wavered, remaining motivated, driven, positive, and feisty. Her final months were spent surrounded by family who saw to her every need. She cherished the small moments together – sharing meals in the hospital with her children, grandchildren, and husband. From the hospital, she and her son set an alarm for 2:30 a.m. so they could both watch the State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen. As members of the Royal Family made their procession from the Palace of Westminster, Anne told Jeff, “Do you remember us watching the wedding of Charles and Diana on the TV in the Kitchen?” He remembered!
Anne’s last week of life was spent at home surrounded by family (what she lovingly called her “ultimate slumber party”). On Sunday, October 30, 2022, Anne peacefully boarded her final flight with her husband and children at her side.
Always the stewardess, Anne started her final pre-board with some announcements:
● To the many doctors and nurses who cared for her in and out of the hospital, thank you for your devoted focus and tireless efforts in helping me fight this disease.
● To my husband Phillip Wickersham – thank you for being my copilot through 55 years of memories.
● To my children Jennifer Wickersham Taylor, Jeffrey Wickersham, Brian Wickersham – thank you for always being by my side. I’m so proud of who you are.
● To my grandchildren Luke Wickersham and Zoe Wickersham – you were YaYa’s world. Your guardian angel is watching from above and I can’t wait to see the people you become.
● To my daughter-in-law Lindsay Wickersham – we’ll share a bottle of Butter Chardonnay when I see you again.
● To my son-in-law, Wesley Taylor, I couldn’t ask for a better or more loving man to walk through life with my daughter.
● To my dear puppy, Jett – thank you for being my couch buddy, smothering me in kisses and always keeping my feet (and heart) warm.
Anne is survived by her husband, Phillip Wickersham; her daughter, Jennifer Wickersham Taylor; her sons, Jeffrey Wickersham and Brian Wickersham; her grandchildren, Luke Wickersham and Zoe Wickersham; her sisters, Jimmie Nell Jennings, Clara Marlinghaus, and Bonnie Riley; her brothers, Joe Devers and Tommy Devers. Anne is pre-deceased by her mother, Maggie Pearl Devers; her father, Jim Devers; her sisters, Christine Agner, Evelyn Brewer, and Linda Davis; and her brother, James Devers.
At Anne’s request, a traditional funeral service will not be held. A private celebration of her life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations in her name to the Wings Foundation. The Wings Foundation offers assistance to American Airlines flight attendants who are in critical need of financial assistance due to illness, injury, disability or a natural disaster.
Donations can be made online in her name, Maggie Anne Wickersham, or by mail to:
Wings Foundation
P.O. Box 610563
DFW Airport, TX 75261-0563
Born in Waynesboro, Tennessee in 1944 to proud parents Maggie Pearl Devers and Jim Devers, Anne was one of 10 children – 7 girls and 3 boys. Growing up in the family home on York Street, there was no shortage of love in the Devers’ home. Anne, better known to her family as Maggie, enjoyed playing with her sisters, brothers, and friends, surrounded by the quiet, bucolic countryside of Wayne County.
In early 1967, Anne packed her bags and left Tennessee to fulfill her dream of becoming a stewardess for American Airlines. After seven long weeks in training at American’s “Stewardess College,” Anne graduated in the Class of 1967-14 along with 47 other newly-minted flight attendants. After earning her wings, Anne was assigned to American’s base at Boston. “When I got my first base assignment, I couldn’t believe it was Boston,” Anne once recalled. “I immediately phoned my mom and, in a distressed voice, told her ‘They’re sending me to Boston!’” When her mom asked what’s so bad about Boston, Anne cried out “The Boston Strangler lives there!” Fortunately, Boston turned out to be one of Anne’s favorite bases and was the start of a richly rewarding career. Among her most memorable passengers were Judy Garland, Raymond Burr, Debbie Reynolds, and Lawrence Welk. In the years to come, Anne would be promoted to base supervisor at National Airport in Washington, D.C., overseeing hundreds of DCA-based flight attendants.
One day in the late 60’s, Anne was assigned to work a routine flight to Chicago. In the flightdeck that day was a young, wide-eyed First Officer from East Springfield, Pennsylvania named Phil. As passengers finished boarding the BAC-111, Anne noticed the overhead bins had quickly filled, leaving several first class passengers nowhere to store their luggage. Always the problem solver, Anne promptly opened the cockpit door and placed the extra suitcases on the floor behind the pilots. “Bins are all full in first,” she said to Phil with a wink and smile, “So these bags are going in here with you!” That routine flight marked the beginning of a lifelong love and companionship for Anne and Phil that spanned more than 55 years.
The young couple would later transfer to American’s base in Buffalo, NY, where their love steadily evolved into a devoted marriage. It was there that Anne and Phil bought their first house together in East Amherst, NY. Soon after, they started a family with their daughter, Jennifer, and first son, Jeffrey. Their family continued to grow after moving to Dallas with the birth of their second son, Brian. Anne devoted her life to her family and her three children – her pride and joy.
Anne was somewhat of an enigma. It could be difficult for strangers to win her over, but once you did, you had a devoted friend for life. She enjoyed socializing yet was intensely private. In fact, she’d be mortified we’ve spent this much time talking about her! She had an eye for finer tastes in life, but only if they lasted. She was a wine connoisseur who enjoyed Trader Joe’s Two-Buck Chuck, Downton Abbey, Julie Andrews and The Sound of Music.
In March 2022, Anne was diagnosed with cancer. True to form, she met this challenge head-on and never wavered, remaining motivated, driven, positive, and feisty. Her final months were spent surrounded by family who saw to her every need. She cherished the small moments together – sharing meals in the hospital with her children, grandchildren, and husband. From the hospital, she and her son set an alarm for 2:30 a.m. so they could both watch the State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen. As members of the Royal Family made their procession from the Palace of Westminster, Anne told Jeff, “Do you remember us watching the wedding of Charles and Diana on the TV in the Kitchen?” He remembered!
Anne’s last week of life was spent at home surrounded by family (what she lovingly called her “ultimate slumber party”). On Sunday, October 30, 2022, Anne peacefully boarded her final flight with her husband and children at her side.
Always the stewardess, Anne started her final pre-board with some announcements:
● To the many doctors and nurses who cared for her in and out of the hospital, thank you for your devoted focus and tireless efforts in helping me fight this disease.
● To my husband Phillip Wickersham – thank you for being my copilot through 55 years of memories.
● To my children Jennifer Wickersham Taylor, Jeffrey Wickersham, Brian Wickersham – thank you for always being by my side. I’m so proud of who you are.
● To my grandchildren Luke Wickersham and Zoe Wickersham – you were YaYa’s world. Your guardian angel is watching from above and I can’t wait to see the people you become.
● To my daughter-in-law Lindsay Wickersham – we’ll share a bottle of Butter Chardonnay when I see you again.
● To my son-in-law, Wesley Taylor, I couldn’t ask for a better or more loving man to walk through life with my daughter.
● To my dear puppy, Jett – thank you for being my couch buddy, smothering me in kisses and always keeping my feet (and heart) warm.
Anne is survived by her husband, Phillip Wickersham; her daughter, Jennifer Wickersham Taylor; her sons, Jeffrey Wickersham and Brian Wickersham; her grandchildren, Luke Wickersham and Zoe Wickersham; her sisters, Jimmie Nell Jennings, Clara Marlinghaus, and Bonnie Riley; her brothers, Joe Devers and Tommy Devers. Anne is pre-deceased by her mother, Maggie Pearl Devers; her father, Jim Devers; her sisters, Christine Agner, Evelyn Brewer, and Linda Davis; and her brother, James Devers.
At Anne’s request, a traditional funeral service will not be held. A private celebration of her life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations in her name to the Wings Foundation. The Wings Foundation offers assistance to American Airlines flight attendants who are in critical need of financial assistance due to illness, injury, disability or a natural disaster.
Donations can be made online in her name, Maggie Anne Wickersham, or by mail to:
Wings Foundation
P.O. Box 610563
DFW Airport, TX 75261-0563
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Maggie Anne Wickersham, please visit our flower store.
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