Rosemary Burpee Selby, Phd

Rosemary Burpee Selby, PhD Retired Psychologist

Augusta, GA---Dr. Rosemary Burpee Selby, 77, entered into rest on Wednesday, February 9, 2011, at Stevens Park Health and Rehabilitation.
Rosemary was the daughter of the late Claude McKinley Burpee, MD and Margaret Lucile McLeod Burpee. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Claude McLeod Burpee, MD and a daughter, Sara Margaret Bowen, PhD. Rosemary was born and raised in Augusta, GA, where she graduated from Mount Saint Joseph Academy.
She subsequently attended the University of Georgia in Athens, and Washington University in St. Louis, where she studied physical therapy and met her future husband. After marrying, and having four daughters, she lived with her family in the Atlanta area until returning to Augusta in 1966. Rosemary then attended Augusta College, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree, in psychology. While at Augusta College, she received the Cranford Award given to the psychology department’s outstanding student. She received her doctorate degree in psychology from the University of South Carolina in 1975. Dr. Selby worked as a staff psychologist at Georgia Regional Hospital before joining the staff of the Medical College of Georgia, where she worked until starting a private practice in 1983. She was a tireless advocate for children during her seventeen years in private practice. She retired in 2000 and spent the next decade helping with the care of her youngest grandchildren, Meg and William.
Rosemary was a devoted mother and grandmother, always assuring that her children and grandchildren knew that they were deeply loved and well provided for. She was involved in numerous professional, social and charitable organizations including the Georgia Psychological Association, the Augusta Country Club, the Augusta Garden Club and Public Radio’s Radio Reader Program. She attended St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church where she was a member of the church choir and the St. Clare’s Guild, as well as being a lay reader and eucharistic minister.
Rosemary loved the outdoors, and was an avid swimmer and water skier. She had a special affinity for the Blue Ridge Mountains, and spent many wonderful weekends camping and hiking along the Blue Ridge Parkway. She also loved dogs, and had many canine companions throughout her life. Rosemary was an extremely generous and spirited soul, and will be greatly missed by her devoted family and friends.
Survivors include three daughters; Rachel Bowen Caulder and her husband Lee of Marion S.C.; Roseanne Elaine Bowen of North Augusta, S.C.; and Barbara Bowen “Libby” Macuch and her husband Bill of Augusta, Ga. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Sara Elizabeth Bean (Brad), Sean McLeod Bean (Ashley), Niki Caulder, Alan Caulder, Elizabeth Macuch Mendoza (Michael), Benjamin Albright Macuch, Emma Grey Macuch, Rosemary Margaret Macuch and William McKinley Macuch and one great-grandchild, Eli Bradley Fisher and by two sisters, Elizabeth Lee (Eddie) of Rutherfordton, NC, Barbara Forage (Rudy) of Damascus, MD and sister in law, Joan G. Burpee of Tampa, FL.
The family wishes to express our heartfelt thanks to all of the wonderful health care providers at University Hospital, Walton Rehabilitation Hospital and Stevens Park Health and Rehabilitation for the kind, compassionate care they gave to our dear mother during her illness. We would also like to give special recognition to Dr. Hetal Thakore, Dr. Matthew Cranford, Dr. Don Williamson and Dr. Donald Townsend. Also, special thanks to our in-home care giver, Ms. Thelma Fields, who provided much support and comfort.
The family received friends on Saturday, February 12, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at Platt’s Funeral Home on Crawford Avenue.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, February 13, at St. Augustines Episcopal Church at 3:00 in the afternoon, with The Reverend Cannon Neal Phelps and The Reverend Jason Haddox officiating. A reception will follow in the parish hall.
Interment will take place on Monday, February 14, 2011 at 3:00 in the afternoon at Westover Memorial Park.
If desired, memorials may be made to St. Augustines Episcopal Church, 3321 Wheeler Road, Augusta, GA 30909.