Mary Elizabeth Hepburn

Mary Elizabeth Hepburn, of Athens, Georgia, died peacefully on September 18, 2022, at Piedmont Athens following a brief illness.  Born on June 8, 1932, in Middletown, NY, she was the daughter of Ann Hanna and Joseph Zoghby and proud of her Lebanese-American heritage.  Her father was a naturalized citizen, having immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from Drew University, Madison, NJ; her master’s degree at the University of Iowa, Iowa City; and her doctorate from Florida State University.  In 1969, she joined the faculty in the College of Education at the University of Georgia, ultimately becoming one of first women to earn the rank of full professor at UGA.  Her scholarship and service focused on civic education and the social sciences.  Mary was active in state, national, and international research consortia dedicated to advancing the fields of civic education, public inquiry, and service learning.  Her work took her to Argentina, Germany, Hungary, and Ukraine, where she made an impact and life-long friends.

While retaining her faculty status, she also headed the Citizen Education Division in the Carl Vinson Institute of Government for two decades.  She organized and hosted the summer Taft Seminar, a much-treasured civic and political science conference for high school teachers.   All of Georgia’s then best- known state and local elected leaders along with administrators, journalists, lobbyists, and advocates were featured at some point during the Taft Seminar’s two decade run.  Mary, along with her husband and their colleagues at the Vinson Institute, authored Georgia’s definitive textbooks on state and local government along with many handbooks and research studies for public officials.

She retired from the University of Georgia in 1998.  In retirement, she enjoyed traveling, reading, music, and a competitive game of Scrabble, always!  She was an active philanthropist with her various alma maters and numerous civic organizations. Her greatest legacy remains her graduate students who have gone onto to be outstanding teachers, school administrators, and university professors.

Mary was predeceased by her parents.  She is survived by her best friend, professional colleague, and husband of 53 years, Lawrence Hepburn, and her daughter and son-in-law, Valerie Hepburn and David Hayes, along with her granddog, Sydney, and a host of dear friends and colleagues from her years at UGA and her residences in Bogart and Athens.  The family expresses profound gratitude to Mary’s newfound friends and professional team at St. Mary’s Highland Hills Village as well as the staff at Piedmont Athens.  A private memorial service will be held at a later date.  Memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or another charity of your choice.

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, WEST, Watkinsville, GA is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com