Marcia McCardle Maddox

Died holding her daughters' hands in the early hours of April 4, 2017. Her motto was "function in disaster, finish in style," and did she ever. Despite years of disability and suffering from cancer, she was the most proper and elegant woman we knew - a style learned at a young age as a press aide to Lady Bird Johnson.

Her years in the White House were the "making of her," as she always told us. Those values - work hard, be "tough enough," and never let them see you cry - served her well as she went on to manage a family business, attend American University law school, and ultimately found her own family-law firm. Now called Maddox & Gerock, it's renowned across Virginia as her daughter, Katharine Maddox, continues to run the firm with partner Julie Gerock. Prior to beginning her professional career, she was an accomplished equestrienne, but turned down an invitation to the Olympic trials to attend Smith College. Her love of horses was lifelong, however, as was her passion for sailing and travel.

She is survived by her daughters, Katharine Maddox and Jennifer Sergent; sons-in-law, Eduardo Manus and Jim Sergent; and her adored grandsons, Henry and Chalmers Sergent.

Visitation will be on Saturday, April 8, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at National Funeral Home in Falls Church, VA. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Arlington, VA. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation in her name to St. Mary's at 2609 N. Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22207.