Mary Katharine Grafton

1927-2025

Mary Katharine Grafton died on October 9, 2025, at Goodwin House Bailey's Crossroads in Falls Church, VA. She was 98. Mary Katharine, a daughter of Edith and Samuel B. Fielder, Sr., was born and raised in Harford County, Maryland.

A devoted educator, Mary Katharine earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and Certificate in Secondary Education from Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) in 1948. That fall, she began her teaching career in the Baltimore County, Maryland, public school system. A few months later, Mary Katharine married Darrell Grafton, with whom she had two adored children. Even after Darrell's untimely passing, in 1982, her heart remained his through the end of her life.

Following a move to Southern Maryland in 1966, Mary Katharine continued her teaching career in the Prince George's County public school system, teaching fifth grade at Crestview Elementary School and, following its closure, Brandywine Elementary School. While teaching full-time, Mary Katharine continued her own education, earning a master's degree from the University of Maryland. Mary Katharine's educational efforts extended beyond the classroom, including leading annual camping trips to Camp Letts and expeditions to the William S. Schmidt Outdoor Education Center. She retired from teaching in 1994, which gave her more time to enjoy travel, often with former teaching colleagues.

Mary Katharine was a talented artist, an avid gardener, and a skilled seamstress and cook, as well as an enthusiastic traveler. A loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt, she lives on in the cherished memories of her daughter, K. Susan Grafton; son-in-law, Rory Flynn; daughter-in-law, Christanne Grafton; granddaughters, Kimberly Carr (Brian) and Sarah Henrickson (Jay); four great-grandchildren; sister Nancy Robinson (Frank); sisters-in-law Doris Finney Fielder and Carolyn Smith; and many nieces and nephews, as well as in the gratitude of numerous former students and their parents.

In addition to her parents and husband, Mary Katharine was preceded in death by her beloved son, D. Andrew ("Andy") Grafton; brothers James, Randolph, and Samuel, Jr.; and sister Ruth Francis.

A celebration of Mary Katharine's life will be held at Goodwin House Bailey's Crossroads, 3440 S. Jefferson Street, Falls Church, VA, on November 16th at 3:00 p.m. She loved children, received loving care from the team at Goodwin House Bailey's Crossroads, and was a devoted, lifelong member of the United Methodist Church. Any donations in her memory to a favorite charity that supports children, the Goodwin Living Foundation, https://goodwinlivingfoundation.org/donate/, or your local United Methodist Church, would be a wonderful and much appreciated tribute to her.