Anne Elizabeth Browning passed away on Monday, August 31, 2026 in Williamsburg, Virginia. Anne was born on February 6,1943 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
Beloved daughter of LTC Richard E. Gavigan and Myrtice Gavigan (nee Morris); beloved granddaughter of Anna (nee Murphy) and Richard Gavigan of Flushing and Ireland and Cornelia (nee Price) and Elbert Morris of Somerville, TN, devoted mother to Douglas and Elizabeth, loving sister and compassionate friend to many.
Anne attended St. Michael’s Elementary School in Flushing, NY and St. Patrick’s Elementary School in Glen Cove, NY. She was a graduate of Locust Valley High School, NY, class of 1961. She received an associate’s degree from Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, PA in 1963. Anne spent a year teaching at St. Cecelia’s Elementary School in Pennsauken, NJ. In 1965, she graduated from Claremont secretarial school in New York City.
Anne married Douglas W. Browning in 1965 at St. Patrick’s Church in Glen Cove. They had two children, Douglas and Elizabeth, and moved first to Memphis, TN, Syracuse, NY and Newport News, VA through Doug’s work with Schlitz Beer/Anheuser Busch where she then made her connection with Colonial Williamsburg and retired after 25 years. Over the years, she worked in many areas of the park including costumed interpreter for nights programs, visitor’s center and customer sales. Anne loved working for Colonial Williamsburg where she enjoyed guiding and teaching visitors from all over the world about American colonial history.
Anne loved her children, her family, education and her Catholic faith. She loved cooking (and was great at it), history, family genealogy, film and music. She was a majorette with St. Patrick’s and a member of the Locust Valley cheerleading squad in high school. Anne touched the lives of so many people through her work at Colonial Williamsburg. She will be remembered and missed by so many for her infectious smile inner strength, unwavering spirit and love of God and family.
Anne is preceded in death by her parents, her children, Elizabeth Anne Browning and Douglas W. Browning, Jr and her husband. She is survived by her sisters, Patricia Jones (Michael), Margaret Larson (Fred) and brother Richard Gavigan (Nena); nieces and nephews, Tristan, Trevor, Trahern, Kristen, Catherine and Peter; grand nieces and nephews, Alexandrine, Evangeline, Henry, Rory, Llewyn and Griffyn; and numerous friends and extended family.
Anne was a member of St. Bede’s Catholic Church in Williamsburg, where over the years, she performed many hours of volunteer service as well as for the sisters of Poor Clare’s Monastery of Barhamsville, VA.
Graveside service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday September 8, 2026 at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Williamsburg in coordination with Bucktrout of Williamsburg. Mass to be held at St. Bede’s at a future date.
Special thanks to the nurses and staff at Hospice of Virginia for their thoughtful and heartfelt care given to Anne during this time.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Anne’s memory may be made to the Power of Place Campaign of Colonial Williamsburg and St. Jude’s Research Hospital.
