BCA gee gee rosell memorial scholarship

Marjean “Gee Gee” Rosell was the beloved owner of Buxton Village Books, sharing a love of literature and pragmatic life lessons with countless generations of Hatteras Island residents and

visitors from its establishment in 1984 until her passing in 2026. 

Gee Gee landed on Hatteras Island in 1974 by way of the National Park Service, a job that interwove her degree in forestry and recreation and her love and appreciation of nature. She continued that career for a decade and had planned to journey on to the north with the Park, until she drove south over Oregon Inlet to collect her things. It was then that she realized that Hatteras Island had become far more than a temporary career stop. 

Gee Gee left the National Park Service and opened Buxton Village Books in an 1860s kitchen house built from shipwreck timbers, setting the foundation for what would become a treasure of an indie bookstore, renowned locally, regionally, nationally, and beyond. She was a true example of a pillar of community; she supported reading programs in the schools, local authors in their journeys to publishing, preserving and protecting the history and environment of Hatteras Island, and numerous other endeavors – often championing these causes quietly and behind the scenes. A person who had the pleasure of walking into Buxton Village Books had a solid chance of leaving with the book or gift that perfectly suited their need, but they were absolutely guaranteed to leave with a word of advice,

encouragement, or maybe just a sly smile and hug they didn’t even know they needed, because Gee Gee was sure to be behind the counter.

The Buxton Civic Association has the distinct honor, in collaboration with Gee Gee’s siblings George and Lyn and a small group of her close friends, to help establish the “BCA Marjean “Gee

Gee” Rosell Memorial Scholarship”. This scholarship will assist graduates from Cape Hatteras Secondary School of Coastal Studies as they pursue their educational endeavors. While many

scholarships are created in the memory of a loved one, this feels especially perfectly suited. Gee Gee truly cherished education, literature, the arts, and the beauty of the natural world.

Supporting others in their educational journey is a tribute that reflects exactly who she was and what she valued.

The BCA Gee Gee Rosell Memorial Scholarship is managed in partnership with the Outer Banks Community Foundation.  The Outer Banks Community Foundation provides professional stewardship for local scholarship funds, ensuring they are responsibly managed and continue supporting students for generations. Through their expertise in fund management, administration, and scholarship distribution, they help community groups like the Buxton Civic Association sustain these meaningful educational opportunities