Mary Person is a proud native of Emporia, Virginia, and has served as an educator in her community for the past 26 years. She began her career as a teacher of children with autism, a role which she proudly held for 12 years. Now, Mary serves as Principal of Bellfield Elementary in Emporia.
Growing up the youngest of five children, Mary learned independence and how to work well with others. As a teen, she participated in the youth council of the NAACP, which taught her leadership and tenacity, two qualities she utilizes today in her career and her community involvement.
After graduating from Greensville County public schools, Mary enrolled in Virginia Commonwealth University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Education. She also earned an endorsement in administration and supervision from Virginia State University, which allowed her to achieve her dream of serving in an administrative role within her area’s public school system.
Throughout the years, Mary has contributed to the growth and success of Greensville County by serving various organizations in many ways, including:
Community involvement
- Member of the St. Paul Church of God-Christ
- Active member of the NAACP
- Board of Directors, Boys and Girls Club of Greensville/Emporia
- Crater Regional Workforce Development Board
Educational involvement
- Principal of Bellfield Elementary in Emporia
- Board of Directors, Southside Virginia Education Center
- Chairperson, Greensville-Emporia Social Services Board
- Assistant Principal, Chesterfield County Public Schools
Political involvement
- Active member of the Democratic party
- Virginia Municipal League General Laws Committee
- Emporia City Council – 8 years,
- Emporia City Council President – 4 years
- City of Emporia Mayor
During her eight years as Mayor of Emporia, Mary helped establish scholarships for graduating seniors to attend at least one year at Southside Community College for free.
As a member of Emporia City Council, she worked tirelessly to ensure her district received a grant that helped several residents purchase their first home, brought substandard housing up to code, and provided affordable living accommodations for the residents of District 1. She also ensured the safety and security of her constituents by working with the police department to increase patrolling of the area’s neighborhoods on a more regular basis.
Mary also assisted the residents of the Tall Oaks community by working with the local government to complete the development of their street, thereby making it safe for all residents to enjoy. She also initiated the establishment of a committee between the city of Emporia and the county of Greensville that afforded both parties the opportunity to work together on issues facing the community.
As a Delegate for District 83, creating jobs will be a top priority for Mary.
As a Delegate for District 83, creating jobs will be a top priority for Mary. She will be aggressive in attracting more businesses and industry jobs to the area. Some businesses cite a lack of a skilled workforce as a reason they would not come to Emporia. During Mary’s tenure on City Council, she helped foster the relationship between the city and county to partner together and develop a one-stop facility for developing a skilled workforce. In fact, the city recently broke ground on Phase 3 of a state-of-the-art facility that trains people in the trades.
