Clara Marlow McCord

McCORD, CLARA MARLOW, age 91 of Winter Park, passed away Thursday, January 12, 2012. She was born in Savannah, GA to Walter Hartwell Marlow and Mildred Walker Marlow. Her father was a police officer killed in the line of duty when Clara was only 6 months old. In later life, Clara and her family were able to return to Savannah a number of times to participate in the annual Fallen Officers Memorial, an event which made them feel closer to the father, grandfather and great grandfather they never got to know. In 1938, after high school graduation, Clara came to Orlando to visit her aunt and never left. She met the love of her life, Huland 'Mac' McCord, and they had 64 happy years together until his death in 2004. During the early years of marriage, Clara worked as a bookkeeper for a citrus packing company, then took the time off to raise her two children. Once they started school, 'Miss Clara' as many of the students knew her, began what would become a 25-year career as a Lunchroom Manager at Robert E. Lee Junior High School. She enjoyed this job because it allowed her to be home when her children were out of school and it also gave her a large group on which to try new recipes. Cooking was one of Clara's many passions, along with gardening, sewing, knitting, oil painting, reading, and going to Disney World. She also loved People! She never met a stranger, she could talk to anyone and loved sharing whatever she had with other people. Faith was also important to Clara and she had been an active member of First United Methodist Church of Winter Park since 1939. For the past 5 years Clara has been a resident of the Winter Park Towers. Clara is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Jerry and Patty McCord of Maitland, daughter and son-in-law Shirley and Tony Martin of Altamonte Springs, and grandson Jason McCord of Orlando. Memorial Services will be held at 3 PM on Monday, January 16, 2012 in the Chapel of First United Methodist Church of Winter Park, 125 N. Interlachen Avenue, Winter Park. A reception will follow in the church Fellowship Hall. Donations in memory of Clara can be made to Hospice of the Comforter, 605 Montgomery Road, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714.