Live Oak — To hear the music of Maggie Mercer is like taking a step back in time and finding a touch of elegance that graces the waiting room with cheer. One might think that her music is her passion but it doesn’t take long to realize music is not really the passion of this intriguing lady.

Most people go to a doctor’s office for healing but one local physician offers therapeutic care through the skilled hands of Mercer. It is through Maggie’s hands graciously pressing the ivory keys of the baby grand piano that the staff and patients of Live Oak’s Dr. Eduardo Romero find such therapeutic care, they usually leave with a smile.

“People hear the music and see me a few days later, telling how much they enjoyed it and that they received a blessing.” Maggie explained with her sweet, genuine smile. “In turn, I receive a blessing in knowing they have been blessed.”

Many people have enjoyed Mercer’s piano music since 1944, when the Hamilton County native began playing for Bright Pond Baptist Church there at the tender age of 12. Since that time, she has played at various churches in North Florida and in Georgia. Maggie is currently in her second year as pianist for Rocky Sink Baptist Church in Western Suwannee County. Her longest tenure at one church was while she served as pianist for Orange Baptist Church. She began playing there in 1949, one year after moving to Suwannee County when she married her late husband, J.H. (Buddy) Mercer. Maggie continued to play at Orange Baptist Church until 1998.

According to Mercer, the key to her piano success is prayer before playing.

“I once knew there was something missing in the music,” she explained. “No matter how much I prepared, something didn’t feel right. God had humbled me and I began praying before playing and everything worked out.”

Over the years, Maggie taught piano lessons at home and she eventually began teaching at the Music Center in Live Oak. According to Mercer, she was a piano instructor there for nearly 25 years.

It was inevitable that the paths of Mercer and Dr. Romero would cross as he also has a great appreciation and affection for the piano. Although quite hesitant to elaborate on his own abilities,  Dr. Romero is an accomplished musician and just couldn’t bare to see the baby grand piano in his office setting idle.

A few months ago, Dr. Romero had an idea that would lead to the delight of many. His idea was  to simply have his friend Maggie Mercer come into the office and play a couple of hours each day.

Maggie met the challenge and is often seated in a back room behind the baby grand, gently creating tranquility throughout the offices. She is usually there Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m.

“I go away rejuvenated after playing,” Mercer said. “It is an opportunity for me to share my blessings with others. That’s what it is all about.”

Mercer makes playing the piano look effortless as her hands magically find the right keys to produce the right notes at the right time.

“Anyone can learn to play the piano if they want to,” Maggie insists. “As a child, I would walk two or three miles from one side of Jasper to the other side to take piano lessons.”

Although Maggie insists anyone can learn to play a piano, she doesn’t believe that it should be forced on them either.

“I taught a 72-year-old student several years ago who did quite well and was able to play,” Mercer explained.

Maggie and her late husband were both only children, but that tradition changed when they had six children. She now has 15 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, who are all very special to her.

“We are a very close family,” Maggie said. “They are all here for me and we support one another in our endeavors.”

Maggie knows too well that all children do not wish to become pianists because her own children didn’t all have that desire. Although they didn’t want to play, Maggie preferred them to enjoy what they wanted to do. She realized they would be good at it and they are.

Maggie’s son Paul never took up the piano, but he bought a guitar several years ago and became a self-taught guitarist.

“One day Paul told me that we were going to share our music in the nursing homes,” Maggie recalled. “We have both received a wonderful blessing in doing that.”

Maggie is quick to admit that she loves Christmas music and Silent Night is especially dear to her heart. Gospel music is her favorite but she does enjoy some of the older country music of artists such as Roy Acuff, Gene Autry and Hank Williams Sr.

For anyone who truly enjoys Christmas music, a morning visit to Dr. Romero’s office might be just what the doctor ordered. Maggie is there doing what she does best.

It appears that Maggie Mercer is a blessing to everyone she meets and finds a ministry in anything that she does.

“My ministry is encouraging others and giving love,” Mercer said. “The children in my neighborhood have learned that I love everyone of them and usually have a snack or some candy to share.”

Her advice is to keep children in church and teach them right from wrong and to live for the Lord.

“In doing that, a life will be blessed,” she promises. “We have to learn to live without anger.”

Mercer is adamant that she is not perfect and doesn’t want to come across as thinking that she is a saint but her philosophy is to simply try to live for the Lord on a daily basis.

An illness isn’t required to feel better after a visit to Dr. Romero’s office on South Ohio Avenue in Live Oak. All that is required to feel better or even blessed is to simply sit down in the waiting room and absorb the beautiful music of Maggie Mercer filling the air. In doing so, one can see that Maggie’s passion really isn’t the piano. Instead, she uses the piano as a tool in satisfying her passion of doing for others.