Mary Bradford McKenzie

Mrs. Mary Bradford McKenzie, age 94, of 23 Mitchell Circle, Rome, GA passed away on June 30, 2012 at a local hospital after a brief illness. Funeral services will be conducted at First Baptist Church Sanctuary on Thursday, July 5th at 3:00 pm by Rev. Joel Snider and Dr. Floyd Roebuck. Visitation will be from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. prior to the funeral. The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers: Andrew Fountain, Jason Stewart, Andre Fountain, Dr. Warren Wilson, David Wilson, Bill Slayden, and Larry Osborn. Honorary pall bearers are Sam Lane, John Burch, and Bill Carver.

Mrs. McKenzie, a native of Rome, was born January 23, 1918 to Rome Fireman C. B. (Red) Bradford and Elberta Ashby Bradford. She was the oldest of five children and was preceded in death by siblings, Evelyn Bradford (1917), Juanita Bradford (1940), Albert Taylor Bradford (1971) and Margaret Bradford Wilson (2009). Mrs. McKenzie was married to J. W. McKenzie on March 8, 1952 and was preceded in death by him in 1994.

Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Anita Lynn Merryman Stewart and E. Quillian Stewart of Rome; grandsons, Andrew (and Gail) Fountain of Acworth, Jason Stewart of Rome, and Emmett (and Elena) Stewart of Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy; great grandsons, Andre and Adrian Fountain of Acworth, Alex Winslow of Gainesville, GA, and Evan and Claudio Stewart of Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy; nieces and nephews, Dr. Warren (and Beverly) Wilson of Fort Worth, TX, David (and Sharon) Wilson of Clifton, TX, Cheryl (and Bill) Slayden of Lenoir City, TN, Brian Bradford of Knoxville, TN and Carolyn (and Bill) Carver of Rome; sister-in-law, Mrs. Barbara Manderly of Knoxville,TN and many great-nieces and great-nephews.

The family would like to thank Lorene Richardson for her dedication, support and excellent care given to Mrs. McKenzie over the past three years.

Mrs. McKenzie completed banking courses from the American Institute of Banking and began her career in banking in the early 1940's at First National Bank of Atlanta. During World War II, she took a break from banking to work at Bell Aircraft in material control. She moved back to Rome in 1946 and began work at National City Bank. After several years, she moved to First National Bank of Rome, which later became Sun Trust Bank. Mrs. McKenzie retired from Sun Trust in 1985 as a Vice President.

Mrs. McKenzie was a member of First Baptist Church since 1953. She was the Flower Committee Chair for several years and also taught Sunday School and was pianist for the Junior Assembly of First Baptist Church. Mrs. McKenzie was also very active in her community. She served as Former Director, Lifetime Member, Beautification Committee Chairman and Christmas in Rome Tour Chairman of the Rome Area Chamber of Commerce. She was the originator of the “Salute to America” July 4th annual celebrations in Rome, on the Board of Directors and Secretary of the Rome Downtown Development Authority, on the Advisory Committee of the City of Rome Sesquicentennial Celebration in 1984, an organizing member of the Rome/Floyd Clean Community Commission in 1976, a member of the Rome Area Council of the Arts, United Way of Rome/Floyd County, and on the Board of Directors and Treasurer for the Rome Symphony Orchestra.

Mrs. McKenzie received many awards for her service to the community including, Salute to America Award for dedicated leadership on July 4, 1998, Heart of the Community Award in 1990, First Grand Marshall of the Rome Christmas Parade in 1986, Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce Honorary Lifetime Membership in 1985, Resolution by the Rome City Commission presented at retirement in 1985, Horace Anthony Volunteer of the Year Award presented by the Rome Floyd Recreation Authority in 1983, Woman of Achievement Recognition 1981-1982 presented by Cherokee B & PW, Outstanding Service Award 1979-1980 from the Rome/Floyd Clean Community Commission, and Woman of the Year 1980 by the Rome Business and Professional Women’s Club.

Her Garden Club activities included National Garden Clubs, Inc. Lifetime Member, Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. Board of Directors 1987-1991 and Lifetime Member, Laurel District Garden Clubs, Inc. Board of Directors and Treasurer, Rome Federated Garden Clubs, Inc Past President, Finance Committee and Lifetime Member, Spade and Trowel Garden Club Past President, Georgia Association Landscape Design Evaluator, Accredited Master Flower Show Judge for National Council, and Creative Study Garden Club Past President 1989-1991 and Treasurer 1997-1999.

Music was an important part of Mrs. McKenzie’s life. At age five, she won a five-dollar gold piece in a singing contest in Atlanta. She was a talented piano and organ player who loved to play and sing with her sister, Margaret Wilson. When Mrs. McKenzie lost her hearing several years ago, she felt that a great part of her life was missing. We know that when she left this earthly home, she was once again able to hear the beautiful tones of music and sounds of nature.

Mrs. McKenzie loved flower arranging, decorating, entertaining, embroidery, sewing, reading, Bible study, and completing crosswords and sudoku puzzles. Her favorite time of the year was Christmas and she loved to decorate her home with Snow Village scenes, trees with thousands of lights, and elegant table settings and wreaths. She enjoyed watching the birds and butterflies come to her sunroom windows and took pride in identifying the birds. Her daughter always kept fresh flowers from the garden beside her chair.

She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and looked forward to their visits. She played games with them and took pride in their accomplishments. Mrs. McKenzie will be missed by her family, her circle of friends, and by the community of Rome, but her contributions have certainly made a difference in the lives of many and in the progress of the community.