Providence Marie Upchurch

Providence Marie Upchurch
October 11, 1933 – August 16, 2026

Providence Marie Upchurch passed away after a prolonged illness on Sunday, August 16, 2026, in Fairhope Alabama, holding the hand of her husband of 70 years, Richard.

Providence was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 11, 1933. Daughter of Philip Mercurio and Mary Pusateri, Providence was born into a loving and boisterous Italian extended family where everyone loved to cook and eat, usually talking loudly at the same time, frequently in Italian. After high school Providence became an Eastern Airlines flight attendant, when she met Second Lieutenant Richard Upchurch, a non-Italian Marine Corps pilot stationed in Miami, Florida. In November 1956 Richard took Providence to the Marine Corps Birthday Ball. Providence and Richard fell in love and were engaged on February 14, 1957. Providence and Richard were married in Tokyo, Japan on June 7, 1957, in a tiny Catholic missionary chapel. The ceremony was so small that the organist also served as the maid of honor. In 1958 Providence gave birth to their first child Michael, in Chicago while Richard was deployed on an aircraft carrier. The couple moved to Detroit Michigan when Richard left active duty and took a job as Assistant Principal at a high school and flew in the reserves. Mary was born in 1960. In 1966, during the escalation of the Vietnam conflict, Richard returned to active duty in the Marine Corps. Providence reluctantly supported Richard’s decision despite her fears. The family moved to Pensacola, Florida and Richard went to Vietnam in 1968 for 13 long, dangerous months. During this difficult time Providence earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, taught English and was a rock for Michael and Mary and the many Marine Corps wives with husbands in peril. Providence bore this tremendous stress and worry, as she weathered every other hardship as the wife of a Marine Corps pilot, with grace and determination. The family moved to Beaufort, South Carolina when Richard returned from Vietnam, and then moved to Quantico, Virginia; Washington, DC; Newport, Rhode Island; Cherry Point North Carolina; and Montgomery, Alabama. During those years Providence continued to teach, was a high school librarian, was a guidance counselor for abused children and battered wives and earned three master’s degrees. From 1985 to 1994 Providence and Richard lived in Richmond, Virginia, where Providence was Director of Counseling for Short Pump Middle School. The couple then moved to Point Clear, Alabama, where Providence worked as a counselor at Central Baldwin Middle School. Providence continued to help students and provided tutoring on graduation exams until she retired. Providence served in volunteer roles at Thomas Hospital and St. Francis Anglican Church. Providence was an accomplished bridge player, cook and seamstress and sewed over 25 beautiful quilts for her relatives and friends. Providence was highly intelligent and was an avid reader. She and her friends founded the “Happy Booker” book club in Point Clear. 

Providence is predeceased by her parents, Philip and Mary, sister Antionette and brother Joseph. 

Providence was an adored wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, and friend and is survived by her husband Richard, son Michael, daughter Mary, her grandchildren Mary, Richard, Carolyn, Provie, and Marlee, and great grandson Leo.