Kathleen Mahaffey

Kathie was born in Paintsville, Kentucky to Dolly (Hall) and Herschel Fields. Her childhood was spent with her younger brother, Bob, in Kentucky and Indiana. She moved with her family to Florida in the early 1950’s. Kathie studied science at the University of Florida.

In 1952 she met Tom W. Mahaffey, the love of her life, at Sunday School. They married in 1955 in DeLand, FL. In 2025 they celebrated 70 years of marriage. Kathie began her married life as a Navy wife, spending time on various bases with the final post being Newport, RI. There she sang in the Navy Wives Chorus while taking care of two babies. She and Tom attended many parties at the Newport Mansions during President Eisenhower’s summer visits.

In 1958 Kathie and Tom began civilian life in Jacksonville, FL where their three daughters, Jill, Beth and Anne grew up. Kathie was the consummate mother and wife. At Hendricks Avenue Elementary School she was home room mother, PTA president and carnival chair repeatedly during the 1960s and 1970s. She baked birthday cakes and threw lots of children’s birthday parties. She drove her children to countless activities throughout their youth. She attended Jacksonville Fine Arts Forum, was a docent at The Jacksonville Children’s Museum. She taught Sunday school and was an active member of the South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church.

One of her greatest pleasures was nurturing her family with delicious meals and setting a beautiful table. In 1986 she was featured in The Jacksonville Beaches Ledger discussing her idea that “cooking is chemistry”. Entertaining brought her pure joy. Kathie and Tom, established several businesses. The Furniture Store in Jacksonville, FL (two locations) was the beginning of the retail ventures. Later in life they moved from Ponte Vedra Beach to Boston and opened T. Wyatt, Ltd. After leaving Boston they returned to DeLand, FL and opened the Florida T. Wyatt, Ltd. Kathie was a wonderful merchant. She made customers feel welcome and always enjoyed sharing stories with the shoppers. In some instances customers became good friends. They lived within walking distance of their Boston T. Wyatt, Ltd store. She loved being able to go home to start dinner and the neighbors were always in awe of the aromas wafting from their apartment. Boston days were filled with work, of course, but evenings were filled with parties, neighborhood events, spending time at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Pops and the BSO. There were few stones unturned during the six years they spent in Boston. Kathie and Tom benefited from their daughter Jill’s 40–plus–year career at Delta Airlines, allowing them to travel the world.

Throughout their travels they enjoyed museums, theater, symphony orchestras, operas, restaurants and international shopping. Together they would make notes about merchandising ideas for their stores. In 2000, Kathie and Tom moved to Atlanta to be close to their grandsons and two of their daughters. Kathie was active at the Cathedral of St. Philip serving as Sunday school teacher, new comers committee member, and Cathedral Antique Show volunteer. In 2016, Kathie and Tom were named honorary chairs of the Cathedral Antiques Show. Kathie’s greatest joy was being a support for her grandsons, Nate and Matthew. Kathie really loved summer and the beach. Since the late 1960s Ponte Vedra Beach Surf Club was a home–away–from–home. It is appropriate that she left us on the first full day of summer. As you have read in these words, throughout her life Kathie was involved! These are a few of the other organizations she engaged in: Jacksonville Children’s Museum, League of Women Voters, P.E.O. International, Beacon Hill Civic Association, Hill House, Board of Trustees, Beacon Hill; Sandy Springs Garden Club and High Museum Volunteer. She was a person of tremendous faith and throughout her years a member of First Presbyterian Church, DeLand, FL; South Jacksonville Presbyterian, Jacksonville, FL; Christ Church Episcopal, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL; Trinity Church, Boston; and the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta.

Kathie was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Robert W. Fields, M.D. and her husband, Tom. Kathie is survived her children Jill Mahaffey, Beth Mahaffey (David Anderson), Anne M. Ladd (Paul Ladd), grandsons Nate Ladd, Matthew Ladd and many cherished nieces, nephews and cousins.

Her Memorial service will be Friday, August 7th starting at 2:00 PM., at The Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, GA. Memorials gifts may be sent to Southwest Christian Care, 7225 Lester Rd, Union City, GA 30291. https://www.swchristiancare.org/ The family of Kathie Mahaffey wishes to extend our deep gratitude to Fatima Osinowo, Nina Nathaniel, Inspire Hospice and Southwest Christian Care.