Mary B. Steddom's Lifelong History of Sharing and Caring

At a time when many of her middle-aged peers in Ocala were settling into grandmotherly roles, Mary B. Steddom settled into the University of Florida law school. More than 30 years later, while her peers are creaking into great-grandmotherly roles, the octogenarian is learning how to host her own Web site. Concurrently she maintains a pared down law practice.

Although the “B” in her name represents a family name, it could well represent “busy.” Steddom has maintained constant involvement in church, civic and career-related activities since the 1950s, in addition to raising a family.

An unforeseen divorce in the mid-1950s left her a single parent with four children to raise and limited skills with which to earn a living.

“The best possibility I saw at the time was to become a legal secretary, so I brushed up my skills and did a great deal of self education,” Steddom said.

Within a few years, she had joined the elite ranks of the handful of women in the state who met the qualifications for Professional Legal Secretary.

While devoting nearly the next two decades to child raising, work, church activities and caring for her mother, Steddom began to nurture a dream of wider horizons.

“I began to think in terms of possibly going to law school,” she said. “However, the fact I would first have to obtain my undergraduate degree and sell or mortgage almost everything I owned was daunting. Financial aid was not readily available, especially for a single woman in her 50s.”

Nonetheless, the dream became more focused with each passing year and when the last of her children graduated from high school, Steddom enrolled in Central Florida Community College.

What began in the late 1960s as a student relationship with the college would later become a significant chapter in her volunteer work in the educational field. Steddom would return to the college in the 1970s and ‘80s to serve the maximum allowable terms of membership on the Board of Trustees. Additionally, she would become instrumental in establishing an ongoing scholarship program.

“Education is a life-long process and passion for me. To have had that time and opportunity with the college was very rewarding,” she said. In 2004, the college recognized her many contributions by naming her an Outstanding Alumni.

Her church activities were among the few things not sacrificed during the hectic years of work and study. She was honored as a Lifetime Member of the Presbyterian Women of the First Presbyterian Church of Ocala in 2006.

Reflecting on her over 50-year affiliation with the church, Steddom noted that she “was very humbled by the recognition when I consider all the dedicated service from others. Still, I am very grateful to the members who were kind enough to consider me.”

She modestly refrained from mentioning that she served as Sunday school teacher, one of the first woman elders, Clerk of the Session and as delegate to the General Assembly (the governing body of the church).

Although she has retired from full-time law practice, it has not slowed her commitment to helping others in need of legal services. The Marion County Bar Association recognized her in 2006 by naming her Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year. They also nominated her for the state award, which she received from the Florida Supreme Court, naming her Florida Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year.

Steddom brings her wealth of experience and knowledge to the Board of Directors of Church Without Walls and the Fifth Circuit Public Guardian Corporation. Both are non-profit organizations serving the indigent populations of Marion County.

“These are both programs that give me an immense amount of personal reward and address an underserved or forgotten portion of the population,” Steddom said. “As the economy tightens, the need for these and related services will continue to expand.”

Never content to rest upon her laurels or cease learning, Steddom is in the start-up phase of an online general merchandise Web store.

“This is a totally different venture,” she said. “It is challenging to acquire the technological skills, but to me, the secret of never growing old is to keep learning something new.”

Ann Sperring is a freelance writer living in Ocala. She may be contacted through the editor at: editor@towerpublications.com.