Mary Virgina Atkinson
1994 Educator of the Year

"Each of you has a story to tell about how you came to your particular ministry. Whatever the route you've taken, or the role you presently play, I expect we all share one common hope - that we might make a difference in some small way in the love which we touch - not to make a difference for our own sakes, but on behalf of the God who calls us."

Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, Mary V. received her bachelor's degree from Florida State University and her master's from the Presbyterian School of Chriatian Education. She served as Director of Christian Education at Peace Memorial Presbyterian Church, Clearwater, Florida, as "DCE-in-Residence" at PSCE, and as elementary-age editor at the PCUS Board of Christian Education, before going to the Office of Church Personnel Services, where she worked in the areas of educator referral and certification.

When the PCUS restructured its boards, Mary V. became staff associate for Advocacy and Referral, first in the Division of Professional Development, then in the Division of Court Partnership Services. She continued her work on behalf of church educators, but also managed referral services for ordained persons. A significant part of her work was concerned with efforts to obtain an ordained office for church educators. Mary V. also served on the APCE Governing Cabinet as the staff person from the PCUS.

Following the reunion of the PCUS and the UPCUSA denominations, Mary V. moved to Louisville to the position of Associate Director in the former Church Vocations Ministry Unit, from which she retired in 1993. An ordained elder, in 1988 she was moderator of Greater Atlanta Presbytery.