Half a Century Later, They've Just Begun

On October 31, 1998, Anyda Marchant and Muriel Crawford celebrated the 50th anniversary of their union at a party held at All Saints Church in Rehoboth Beach.

Anyda and Muriel are well known in the Rehoboth community for hostessing Saturday afternoon salons on the comfortable porch of their long-time south Rehoboth home. Throughout the summer season, folks drop by to share thoughts on literary topics, town news or other items of local interest. Anyda and Muriel are pros at keeping the conversation—and the refreshments—flowing smoothly. The anniversary party was no exception. Long-time parishioners of the church, the couple were joined by 80 friends and neighbors at a reception. The group seemed to represent the diversity of Rehoboth itself. Hosts included: Lois and Curt Raynor, Tom Jones, Joe McMahon, Helen Beiber and John Dickson, and Murray Archibald and Steve Elkins—a gay-straight coalition of the couple’s friends. Guests included neighbors, elected officials—John Schroeder, who took precious time out from campaigning for re-election to the Delaware Legislature!—local business owners, church members, relatives, gay and straight friends, and young and old ones. Even the town Librarian was there.

The couple recently made news by having the story of their fifty-year union celebrated in the pages of the newly published book Together Forever by Eric Marcus. The author notes that Anyda and Muriel met a half century ago when they both worked for the Washington, D.C. law firm, Covington and Burling. At the time, Anyda was one of only four female attorneys—out of the firm’s 75 lawyers—and Muriel was a senior administrative assistant. Both have enjoyed rich and rewarding second careers. Since leaving the law firm, Anyda has written 14 novels under the pen name Sarah Aldridge, with Muriel providing support at the keyboard. The latest book, Nina in the Wilderness, and many of her earlier works, is available at Lambda Rising and bookstores around the country.

The anniversary party, marked by warm words of the champagne toasts and the cutting of a traditional anniversary cake made by Chef David Leigey, was a way to share in their marvelous milestone. As the party ended, the couple was showered with best wishes for the future—specifically, the start the next week of their annual migration to their home in Florida.