Distinguished Alumna Award
Mary Lloyd Pollard Lay '54
Living a Legacy of Service

Service is a St. Margaret's School tradition, and it is a legacy handed down within the family of this year's Distinguished Alumna, Mary Lloyd Pollard Lay '54. But before we look back on her distinguished life, let's look together at what was going on at St. Margaret's School when this year's distinguished alumna traveled up the Northern Neck, across the bridge, and into the ninth grade class as a boarding student in 1950.

Her father, Dr. John Garland Pollard, Jr., was serving as acting Dean of Church Schools in the Diocese of Virginia. Gordon Lewis chaired the Board of Governors, whose meeting minutes recorded discussions of the acquisition of Anderton House. Viola Woolfolk was beginning her 34-year tenure as Headmistress at the age of 27.

During her own St. Margaret's years, Mary Lloyd was a member of the Grey team and always where she needed to be to make things happen: newspaper editor, student council member, class officer.

Her yearbook records the following qualities: "Pet peeve-the scales never registering under a certain number. (Today she has a pin I love, that says, "Round is a shape.") Known for always being helpful. Admired for perseverance. Ambition-to marry and enjoy life."

And accompanying her yearbook picture is this rhyme:
"For Polly: A host of good qualities you see unfurl, Polly is really quite a girl, Her fine attitude is known throughout the school She's thoughtful and cute, but nobody's fool!





"Creativity, humor, and organizational prowess..... a supporter of every school project, from campaigns to coffees."



These remarks were made by Head of School Margaret R. Broad at the award presentation.



Today it is for her life lived fully and richly in our corner of Virginia that we honor Mary Lloyd. I'd also like to share with you the impressive family legacy that so powerfully has informed her commitments: Her Grandfather was Governor of Virginia. Her father was a Church Schools trustee for 29 years, from 1947 to 1976. Her brother Albert has been an SMS Board of Governors and Foundation Board member since 1986. Her nephew Albert Jr. serves the Northern Neck as a delegate to the Virginia General Assembly. And her two nieces attended SMS.

Mary Lloyd herself has served two terms as alumnae president, from 1973-1975 and from 1982-1984, and has been on the Board of Governors again since 1998.

In fact, the SMS Alumnae Association as we know it today was first envisioned by Mary Lloyd. She founded the Alumnae Council, established the Class Agent program, and was the first of our presidents to attend the national meetings of the Alumnae Presidents' Council. She directed the association's leadership toward embracing the dual roles of friend-raising and fundraising on behalf of the school, both of which have been crucial to our success.

Mary Lloyd has gathered up all these talents and brought them back to where she began: to the Northern Neck and to St. Margaret's School.

We are not the only community organization to have enjoyed Mary Lloyd's creativity, humor, and organizational prowess. Others include the Garden Club of the Northern Neck and "Just Gardens," a tour she helped launch to benefit The Haven Women's Shelter.

She is the author of Heaven in Zone 7, a guide to local gardening, and in 1979, co-founded The Dandelion, a wonderful women's shop in Irvington.

At St. Margaret's, Mary Lloyd has served on the boards of three campaigns: Heritage and Future, Educating Young Women for Life, and our current initiative, Strengthening our Foundations. As a member of the Pollard family, she participated in a gift to honor her mother, Margaret Clarkson Pollard, with the Art Room.

Mary Lloyd has been a strategic planning participant. She's been a supporter of virtually every school project, from campaigns to coffees. She has chaired our Marketing Committee, which met all of its goals in its first year, thanks to her partnership with our first-ever director of marketing and communications, Jenni Brockman.

She is equally effective in less formal roles as a strong presence for St. Margaret's in the Northern Neck, whether it is hosting outreach events or identifying prospective students. She's an avid reader and book reviewer, member of two book clubs, and my e-mail pal.

As we honor Mary Lloyd, we need also to express our greatest appreciation to her family for sharing her with our community and for their community leadership: Her husband, David; children Mark and Martha; her new granddaughter, Caroline; her brothers, Albert and John Garland Pollard; and her nieces, Sarah Pollard Chiffriller '83 and K.C. Pollard Lawson '84.

Thank you, Mary Lloyd, for living out our mission, for growing in grace, and for continuing to share in the life of our school for the benefit of us all.