From her brother Lester's book, DANIEL O'FLAHERTY FAMILY HISTORY, 1971, the story of our immigrant ancestor.---------MEMORIES: W. C. O'Flaherty Family---
Mapha O'Flaherty Andrews was born on September 27, 1901 at Carmel, Virginia and attended elementary school and two years of high school at Fort Valley Elementary and High School. She later attended and graduated from Woodstock High School, May 1951.
After graduation she attended Harrisonburg Normal School preparatory to teaching school for one year at St. Luke's Elementary School. She then came to Washington, D. C. and was employed by Woodward & Lothrop as a saleslady. She rose to the position of Assistant Buyer at Woodie's.
Since the Federal government offers many employment benefits, she accepted a position under Civil Service in 1943 and spent four years with the Maritime Commission before transferring to the Agriculture Department. She has risen to the position of Section Chief in the Bureau of Markets.
Once a month, when commodity prices are published, all persons are excluded from the office for the day and the employees are held incommunicado until all agencies are informed at the same time of farm prices. As of that exact hour. Mapha received a Certificate of Merit in 1970 for outstanding performance in her position.
On June 17, 1939 Mapha married John Andrews. John's first wife, Mabel Tamkin Andrews (daughter of Josephine), had died five years previously leaving a daughter, Elaine, 12 years old, and three older brothers. Mapha aided substantially in helping rear the children, especially Elaine. All of John's children are devoted to Mapha and rally to her side in any time of sickness or other need.
On July 5, 1965 John died at the age of 73 years and is buried in Woodstock, Virginia.
Mapha plans to retire soon, and will probably re—locate in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. She is a great booster for the Famous Valley of Virginia.