Henrietta Bruce Segal

Mary Henrietta Bruce Segal Mary Henrietta “Penny” Bruce Segal, 80, died on Monday, December 14, 2009 at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland, of emphysema. Mrs. Segal was born in Homerville, Georgia on April 25, 1929. She spent her childhood in Homerville and graduated with honors from Homerville High School as class Salutatorian in 1946. She then attended Georgia State College for Women (Georgia College & State University) in Milledgeville, Georgia. Her first vocation was as an elementary teacher in Homerville and in Nashville, Georgia. Following several years teaching, Mrs. Segal moved to Washington, D.C., accepting a job as a social worker at Children’s Hospital. In Washington she met her husband Robert Segal. They were married in 1952 and lived in the District until early 1955 when they moved to a home in Silver Spring that they shared until Robert passed in 1995. She continued to reside in that home until her death. Mrs. Segal was active in many charitable organizations. She served as President of the Silver Spring Chapter of Women’s American ORT, was the Treasurer of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society National Capital Chapter for several decades, was a member of Hadassah and of the Silver Spring Garden Club. She belonged to the First Baptist Church in Homerville, Georgia and then Ohr Kodesh Congregation in Chevy Chase, Maryland. She was a lifelong Democrat and politics were an important part of her life. Her hobbies included sewing, baking, antiques, bridge, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, and watching MSNBC. Mrs. Segal was the oldest of six children born to James Barton Bruce Sr. and Ranna Mae Ramsey Bruce. She was predeceased by her husband Robert Segal, her parents, and brother James Barton Bruce Jr. She is survived by her three children; Ralph Segal of Potomac, Maryland, Bruce Segal and Ellen Segal, both of Silver Spring, Maryland, her brother Clayton Ramsey Bruce of Blackshear, Georgia and sisters Frances Carolyn Bruce Flexer of St. Simons Island, Georgia, Martha Anne Bruce White of San Carlos, California, and Thelma Catherine Bruce of Panama City, Florida. The family will receive friends on Sunday, December 27, 2009, from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM at the Roundtree Funeral Home at 240 E. Dame Avenue in Homerville, Georgia. A graveside service will follow at the Pine Forest Cemetery in Homerville at 2 PM with Dr. Bill Young officiating. A memorial service in Washington, D.C. will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association: http://www.lungusa.org/donate/