Florence Marriott
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Published in Tampa Bay Times on September 8, 2024
MARRIOTT, Florence Nicholas “Nicky” died on August 25, 2024 in San Antonio, TX. Her heart beat for 100 years.
“Nicky,” as her friends called her, was born on August 29, 1923, in Richmond, Virginia, to Henry Reeve Nicholas and Frances Ludlam Nicholas. She grew up during the Depression at “Reeveland,” her family’s farm on the James River near Scottsville, Virginia. During World War II, at age 18, she moved to Baltimore and worked as a medical technician at The Johns Hopkins Hospital where she met her husband Dr. Henry J.L. Marriott. The family moved to Tampa, Florida in the early 1960s where Nicky lived until 2012 when she moved to be near her daughter in San Antonio.
She was predeceased by her husband, daughter, Mary Reeve Marriott, and her brother, George Nicholas. She is survived by daughters, Suzanne Arton Marriott of Tampa and Cary Nicholas Marriott and son-in-law, Jim Taylor of San Antonio; two grandchildren, Lucie Marriott Taylor and Wilson Reeve Marriott Taylor, both of New York City; her brother, Richard Nicholas of Baton Rouge; her stepson, Henry F.A. Marriott, of Oxfordshire, England; and nephews, George Nicholas Jr. of Atlanta, Overton Nicholas of Woodville, Mississippi, and Carter Nicholas of Houston.
A devoted mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, Nicky moved to Boston for several years in her eighties to help care for her daughter who was living with ALS. It was a measure of her devotion to others. She gave generously to many charities and the Episcopal Church, of which she was a lifelong member. Helping others was life’s greatest pleasure, she said. Nicky could be vivacious and loquacious company. With her witty retorts, she never missed a beat. Warm, genuine, and a great encourager, she “adopted” many during her long life. As one friend said, “She took me under her wing.” And her wingspan was wide. For Nicky, to love was to live and wherever she lived she made abiding friendships. Although she made a home in many places, she never forgot her Virginia roots. “You can take the girl out of Virginia but you can’t take Virginia out of the girl,” she often said. Her family credits her longevity to her resilience and determination as well as her love of dessert.
Nicky wished that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Compassionate Care ALS (ccals.org) in memory of her daughter Reeve, or to a charity of your choice. A graveside service will be held at the family cemetery in Scottsville, Virginia, in October.
