Lisa Michele McBrearty

Lisa Michele McBrearty, 68, of Lumberton, passed away on Friday, July 10, 2026. She was born on January 1, 1958, in Baltimore, MD.

Lisa was a woman of remarkable creativity, intelligence, compassion, and emotional depth. She possessed an uncommon breadth of interests and talents, approaching the people and pursuits she loved with enthusiasm, curiosity, and passion.

During her years at Crossland High School in Temple Hills, Maryland, Lisa was actively involved in student government, drama, foreign languages, and concert choir. Her talents, artistic abilities, and commitment to volunteer service were recognized when she was crowned Ms. Crossland. These early accomplishments reflected qualities that remained central throughout her life: creativity, generosity, confidence, and a willingness to become fully involved in the world around her.

Lisa was a gifted artist in many forms. She could sculpt, paint, write poetry, and sing with a beautiful voice. She had a special love for holidays and meaningful occasions, using her artistic abilities to create decorations that captured the spirit and themes of each celebration. Through these efforts, she transformed ordinary spaces into expressions of warmth, beauty, and joy for those she loved.

A prolific reader and lifelong learner, Lisa was endlessly curious about the world. She loved learning about science, history, music, art, literature, and the humanities, and she took great pleasure in discussing the ideas and discoveries that captured her imagination. She was witty, perceptive, and passionate about anything to which she devoted her attention.

Lisa also had a deep love for animals and supported animal rescue organizations. Her concern for vulnerable animals reflected the compassion and tenderness she extended to others throughout her life.

Above all, Lisa loved her family and the people closest to her. She possessed a rare ability to express her feelings openly and sincerely. Those she loved never had to wonder how she felt about them, because she made her affection known freely through her words, her creativity, her loyalty, and her actions. Her emotional honesty was one of her most distinctive gifts.

No brief account can fully capture Lisa’s depth and breadth as a person. She will be remembered for her beautiful voice, artistic spirit, intellectual curiosity, quick wit, passionate nature, compassion for animals, and extraordinary capacity to make others feel deeply and unmistakably loved.

Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Christopher McBrearty and wife, Rebecca, and Colin McBrearty and wife, Jess; brother, Tim Toland and wife, Susan; grandchildren, Natalie and Finley; and a host of extended family, friends, and loved ones.

Preceding Lisa in death are her parents, James Daniel Toland and Jean Joy Fousek.

In addition to her loving family, Lisa is survived by her longtime partner, Andy Garza, with whom she shared a loving relationship for many years. During the final two years of her life, Andy served as her devoted caregiver, providing constant love, comfort, companionship, and support while remaining faithfully by her side until her passing.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lisa Michele McBrearty, please visit our floral store.