If we are fortunate enough, we can see the goodness and fullness of life through the actions of others. Throughout the life of Mary Virginia Terry, we saw a full measure of that goodness. Mary Virginia dedicated much of her life and her cause to education, and she left an indelible mark on so many young women and men. Thousands of students in the C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry College of Business and many more across campus benefit each year from the generosity of Mary Virginia and Herman, who passed in 1998.
Mary Virginia Terry passed away on the morning of this year’s Georgia-Florida football game, just as this magazine was to be printed. It has been one of the blessings of my time as dean to get to know Mary Virginia and count her as a beloved friend. Possessing a wonderful quick wit, Mary Virginia was always perfect in presentation and poise. Her love of the Georgia Bulldogs matched her keen interest in the accomplishments of our Terry College students. And her longstanding support enabled us to make tremendous strides in educating students and forging a better future for the college and the university. Considering how many people they impacted, the legacy of Herman and Mary Virginia’s goodness is almost beyond comprehension.
The fall/winter issue of Terry magazine shines a light on the widening impact of Herman and Mary Virginia Terry’s altruism. Our programs in Atlanta — the part-time Professional MBA and Executive MBA and our Executive Education offerings — have grown and matured, and their reputations have gained national prominence. We now have almost as many graduate students earning degrees in Atlanta as we do in Athens, and our diverse portfolio of executive programs designed to meet the needs of business leaders continues to adapt and expand. The skills and leadership development our students acquire as part of their learning experience pay immediate dividends.
Our ongoing engagement with Atlanta includes partnerships with local businesses, community groups and nonprofit organizations, mirroring the same commitment we bring to the city of Athens. Partnering with local communities was a passion for Mary Virginia as well — she was a leading figure in education, health care and the arts in Jacksonville, serving on the board of directors for several councils and foundations. Our aim to help students reach their full potential while offering them opportunities and encouraging a sense of responsibility to improve their communities fits perfectly with the goals and life of Mary Virginia.
Mary Virginia was a schoolteacher early in her life, and she valued the idea that we should never stop learning. She had a knack for making everyone feel special, and her advancement of the Terry College was based on a simple principle: to make things better.
In the truly wonderful life of Mary Virginia Terry, making things better is exactly what she did.