Lizette T. Day, 82, of Hollywood, MD, Sotterley Plantation docent and volunteer, Master Gardener, member of Garden Club of Southern Maryland and the League of Women Voters, mother and grandmother, passed peacefully after a brief re-encounter with cancer on Friday September 3, 2010 at St. Mary's Hospital.

Lizette was born Marta Lizette Thomas in Baltimore, Maryland on October 25th, 1928 to John Bosley Thomas (Baltimore City chemist and researcher on defense projects during both world wars), and Marguerite Maas Thomas, concert pianist. Lizette attended the Maryland Institute College of Art, then married Gaylord Hill Day of Baltimore in 1948, accompanying him on a series of industrial and later governmental postings in the Caribbean islands, Venezuela, Colombia and Iran until she returned to Baltimore in 1964 to oversee their son's education.

Upon her husband's retirement, Lizette took a position as docent and Gaylord as public relations manager at the Sotterley Plantation historic manor in 1976. The couple resided at Sotterly Plantation in Brink Cottage, which overlooks the Patuxent. Lizette and Gaylord lived there until his death in 1985 - with Lizette continuing to reside there late into the 1990s. Lizette was intimately involved with Sotterley as it developed from a private house with limited public access to a museum establishment with a professional staff.

Lizette had a full, rich life - which took her overseas where her warmth, beauty and joy in living enriched small expatriate colonies and where she and her husband established strong friendships within the larger local community. On their arrival in Sotterley, Mr. and Mrs. Day were fortunate to be welcomed into the heart of St. Mary's County, developing another set of friendships which sustained her after her husband's passing.

Lizette was fully engaged in life and was blessed with an interest and affection for people which endeared her to many and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

A Memorial will be held at Sotterley Plantation, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD on Sunday, October 24, 2010 from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.