Clara Todd
1944-03-13 2021-04-17
On April 17, 2021, Clara Cox Todd passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, at Chester County Hospital.
Clara was born in Oxford, Mississippi, on March 13, 1944 to Ernest and Annie Bell Cox (Smith). She grew up in Gainesville, FL, with her best friend, big sister, and lifelong confidante Mary Margaret. Their father was the assistant dean of Arts and Sciences at The University of Florida, and his love of language passed on to both of his daughters. Clara graduated early from Stetson University with a major in Primary Education in 1964, and would have been the first person her family turned to for help in writing this obituary.
In 1965, Clara moved to Raleigh, NC to work for Wachovia Bank. In 1966, Maurice Todd, an engineering graduate student from NC State University, moved into an apartment across the street. With many roommates between them and possible dating scenarios playing out, a fortuitous coin flip placed Clara on her first date with Maurice. Their eventual children and grandchildren are eternally grateful for the outcome of that coin toss, though they know that Clara and Maurice’s love would have found a way, heads or tails.
Clara and Maurice were married in Gainesville in 1968. They spent the next fifty-three years as equal partners in building a life full of love, kindness, friendship, laughter, and family.
Maurice’s new job at DuPont brought them to Wilmington, DE in 1969, and they settled in Chadds Ford, PA shortly thereafter. Their daughter, Amy, was born in 1972. Despite Amy’s colic, their son, Michael, was born in 1977. Maurice coached many of the kids’ sports teams, and Clara could always be heard cheering from the stands. She never missed a game.
Once, when Amy was upset about a school project that had gone awry, Clara told her, “Everything is fixable.” Then she showed her how to fix it. Fixing problems remained a specialty throughout Clara’s life.
A talented artist, Clara’s watercolors hang throughout their house in Chadds Ford. She also served as the photographer and historian for the family, her camera ever-present. Her beautiful photo albums fill several bookshelves (1967-2002) and hard drives (2002-present day), and have preserved cherished memories for friends and family.
Perhaps her favorite activity was listening to the loons calling to each other across Rangeley Lake in Maine, where her family vacationed every summer for over thirty years. Loons feature prominently in her home décor, and could often be found on her earrings and coffee mugs. If you think of Clara the next time you hear a loon calling across a lake, she would certainly approve of the association. (She would tell you that some of her favorite people are loons, too.)
Over a banking career spanning three decades, Clara worked in customer service, first for Delaware Trust Company in Wilmington, then for several other employers as the bank kept changing the sign out front. She retired from banking in 1999 and turned her considerable talents and energies toward her family, friends, sorority sisters, and volunteer activities.
Her favorite job was that of “Grammy,” a role that she relished from the birth of her first grandchild in 2009. Her son Michael and his wife Kara have two sons, Evan (11) and Zachary (9). Her daughter Amy and her wife Jaime have a daughter, Anjali (8), a son, Griffin (7), and another son on the way (due in June). Grammy wouldn’t say she spoiled her grandkids, but she certainly did dote on them. Christmas shopping season usually began in August. She shared a special connection with her grandchildren, and they all dearly miss her. (Her soon-to-be-born fifth grandchild may or may not be given some time to grow before he is inundated with photos and stories. Grammy was excited for his upcoming birth, and her family takes solace that her beautiful spirit will live on through all five of her grandchildren.)
Clara was preceded in death by her parents, brothers-in-law Charles Overbey and Laurence Houston Todd, her beloved nieces Dana and Patricia, and many more relatives whom she held closely in her heart. She is survived by Maurice, Amy’s family (Amy, Jaime, Anjali, Griffin, and baby boy coming soon), Michael’s family (Mike, Kara, Evan, and Zack), her sister Mary Margaret, and many dear brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
While Clara loved flowers and enjoyed taking drives to see the budding forsythia every spring (a tradition that continued in the weeks prior to her passing), she loved the Ronald McDonald House even more. She volunteered at “Ron McDon” every Wednesday for twenty years, and strongly believed in its people and its mission. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory can be sent to Ronald McDonald House of Delaware at 1901 Rockland Road, Wilmington, DE 19803, or made online at www.rmhde.org (click the tab for “Donate Now”). Please check the box for a dedication “in honor or memory” of Clara and reference her name, if you choose to make a donation.
A Celebration of Life for Clara will be held in the fall.
Clara was born in Oxford, Mississippi, on March 13, 1944 to Ernest and Annie Bell Cox (Smith). She grew up in Gainesville, FL, with her best friend, big sister, and lifelong confidante Mary Margaret. Their father was the assistant dean of Arts and Sciences at The University of Florida, and his love of language passed on to both of his daughters. Clara graduated early from Stetson University with a major in Primary Education in 1964, and would have been the first person her family turned to for help in writing this obituary.
In 1965, Clara moved to Raleigh, NC to work for Wachovia Bank. In 1966, Maurice Todd, an engineering graduate student from NC State University, moved into an apartment across the street. With many roommates between them and possible dating scenarios playing out, a fortuitous coin flip placed Clara on her first date with Maurice. Their eventual children and grandchildren are eternally grateful for the outcome of that coin toss, though they know that Clara and Maurice’s love would have found a way, heads or tails.
Clara and Maurice were married in Gainesville in 1968. They spent the next fifty-three years as equal partners in building a life full of love, kindness, friendship, laughter, and family.
Maurice’s new job at DuPont brought them to Wilmington, DE in 1969, and they settled in Chadds Ford, PA shortly thereafter. Their daughter, Amy, was born in 1972. Despite Amy’s colic, their son, Michael, was born in 1977. Maurice coached many of the kids’ sports teams, and Clara could always be heard cheering from the stands. She never missed a game.
Once, when Amy was upset about a school project that had gone awry, Clara told her, “Everything is fixable.” Then she showed her how to fix it. Fixing problems remained a specialty throughout Clara’s life.
A talented artist, Clara’s watercolors hang throughout their house in Chadds Ford. She also served as the photographer and historian for the family, her camera ever-present. Her beautiful photo albums fill several bookshelves (1967-2002) and hard drives (2002-present day), and have preserved cherished memories for friends and family.
Perhaps her favorite activity was listening to the loons calling to each other across Rangeley Lake in Maine, where her family vacationed every summer for over thirty years. Loons feature prominently in her home décor, and could often be found on her earrings and coffee mugs. If you think of Clara the next time you hear a loon calling across a lake, she would certainly approve of the association. (She would tell you that some of her favorite people are loons, too.)
Over a banking career spanning three decades, Clara worked in customer service, first for Delaware Trust Company in Wilmington, then for several other employers as the bank kept changing the sign out front. She retired from banking in 1999 and turned her considerable talents and energies toward her family, friends, sorority sisters, and volunteer activities.
Her favorite job was that of “Grammy,” a role that she relished from the birth of her first grandchild in 2009. Her son Michael and his wife Kara have two sons, Evan (11) and Zachary (9). Her daughter Amy and her wife Jaime have a daughter, Anjali (8), a son, Griffin (7), and another son on the way (due in June). Grammy wouldn’t say she spoiled her grandkids, but she certainly did dote on them. Christmas shopping season usually began in August. She shared a special connection with her grandchildren, and they all dearly miss her. (Her soon-to-be-born fifth grandchild may or may not be given some time to grow before he is inundated with photos and stories. Grammy was excited for his upcoming birth, and her family takes solace that her beautiful spirit will live on through all five of her grandchildren.)
Clara was preceded in death by her parents, brothers-in-law Charles Overbey and Laurence Houston Todd, her beloved nieces Dana and Patricia, and many more relatives whom she held closely in her heart. She is survived by Maurice, Amy’s family (Amy, Jaime, Anjali, Griffin, and baby boy coming soon), Michael’s family (Mike, Kara, Evan, and Zack), her sister Mary Margaret, and many dear brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
While Clara loved flowers and enjoyed taking drives to see the budding forsythia every spring (a tradition that continued in the weeks prior to her passing), she loved the Ronald McDonald House even more. She volunteered at “Ron McDon” every Wednesday for twenty years, and strongly believed in its people and its mission. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory can be sent to Ronald McDonald House of Delaware at 1901 Rockland Road, Wilmington, DE 19803, or made online at www.rmhde.org (click the tab for “Donate Now”). Please check the box for a dedication “in honor or memory” of Clara and reference her name, if you choose to make a donation.
A Celebration of Life for Clara will be held in the fall.
Clara was a friend at Stetson, and I cannot think of her without seeing her bright smile. She was a talented and gracious person, too soon gone. So sorry for your loss, and her passing away. I am glad for your excellent obituary to praise some of her accomplishments. She deserved no less. I'm a retired high school English teacher living in north Ga now. So sorry that Clara is gone. My sincere sympathy to you and your family. Thank you for posting this.
tribute by Gwen Lancaster