Longtime Rehoboth Beach resident, Muriel Inez Crawford, 92, passed away June 7 at her South Rehoboth home, surrounded by her loving circle of friends.

Born on April 21, 1914 in Washington, DC, Crawford served as an executive secretary at the Washington law firm of Covington and Burling, followed by a position as executive secretary to the president of the Southern Railroad, now Amtrak.

Crawford, along with her partner of 57 years, Anyda Marchant, who pre-deceased Crawford this past January, began coming to Rehoboth Beach on weekends in the early 1960s. They first owned a weekend home in Rehoboth and then, upon retirement in 1972, moved to a downtown beach home. The home became the site of legendary Saturday evening salons, where cocktails, conversation and an amazingly diverse crowd would gather—neighbors, clergy, writers, musicians—young and old, gay and straight filled the large front porch. In the winter, the cocktails and conversation would relocate to the couple’s home in Pompano Beach, FL.

In 1972, the couple founded Naiad Press, an independent feminist publishing house, and then founded A&M Books of Rehoboth Beach in 1995. At the time of her death, Crawford was Publisher Emeritus with A&M Books.

Crawford is survived by a niece and nephew and a family of dear friends.

There will be a memorial service on Saturday, July 1 at 11 am at All Saints Church in Rehoboth Beach, followed by a private interment.