Florence Taylor McGrady, 81, of Rehoboth, Delaware, formerly of Arlington, Virginia passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 29, 2004, at Lewes Convalescent Center in Lewes, Delaware. Her funeral service was held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, February 9, 2004, at Mount Calvary United Methodist Church in Tifton. Mrs. McGrady was laid to rest at Mount Calvary United Methodist Church in Tiftton.
Born March 31, 1922, in Tifton, Mrs. McGrady was the daughter of the late James Taylor and Ethel Payne Taylor. She graduated with honors from Tifton High School in 1939; and completed the Savannah Business School and attended Savannah State College. Shortly thereafter, she worked as a legal secretary for the law firm of Forrester & Mitchell in Tifton until 1951. She then accepted a position with the law firm of Battle, Winslow & Merrell in Rocky Mount, North Carolina until 1962. She was the private legal secretary to Herman S. Merrell, who was also president of the North Carolina Bar Association.
In addition to her duties as a legal secretary, she derived a great deal of knowledge and information by assisting Mr. Merrell in the preparation of a book entitled "Advisory Handbook on Office Management and Fees", which was adopted by the North Carolina Bar Association for use as a guide by all lawyers in the state.
Because of her strong legal background, Florence was asked to move to Washington, D.C. and become a member of the staff of the sub-committee on administrative law and governmental relations of the House Committee on the Judiciary in the United States congress. She held the position of legal assistance under Mr. Shattuck, the legal counsel for the Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representatives, serving under chairmen Rodino and Danielson.
Florence was a highly respected member of the staff. Her work and name appear in many Congressional records. She worked on the Nixon impeachment hearings and was often seen on the televised hearings. She retired from the House Judiciary sub-committee on Capitol Hill in 1991 after 29 years of loyal and dedicated service.
Florence was a member of the Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Arlington, Virginia and Mount Calvary United Methodist Church in Tifton.
Mrs. McGrady is survived by her beloved daughter and son, Norma McGrady of Rehoboth, Delaware and Robert Bone of Springfield, Virginia; her devoted sister, Russie Taylor Jones Olori of Pomona, New York; her niece, May Jones Shwidock of Pomona, New York; a great-niece, Vicki Schasller; and her nephews, David Schassler and Thomas Schassler; and their children, David, Jillian, Jennifer and Tommy Jr.