Dr. Mary T. Christian: Call her Special

Dr. Mary T. Christian had many titles in her 95 years on Earth, including educator, state legislator, community leader and humanitarian. However, she wasn't tied to any of them, according to her daughter Bonita Toler. Every now and then, when her mother was being honored with an award or proclamation, the organizers would forget to refer to her as "Dr. Christian." Afterward, Toler would point that out, but her mother didn't care.

Her mother's response was: "I use Dr. Christian when I need to use Dr. Christian. Other than that, I'm just Mary."

Toler said that's the way her mother was.

"People always felt that they were the special one. She made everyone feel special," Toler explained.

Thomas Nelson Community College made Christian's family feel special Friday, posthumously awarding her its 2020 Presidential Leadership Award in the theater named for her more than 17 years ago.

"We're very humbled about it; that people would continue to think of mom after she's gone," Toler said. "We know it's one thing to honor her when she's here and you can see what she's doing. We're appreciative that you've noticed her trailblazing, and all the accomplishments she's fulfilled in her life."

The College established its Presidential Leadership Award in 2007 to honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King by recognizing an outstanding community leader. In January, the College announced Christian was this year's recipient.

Past recipients of the award include Sen. Mamie Locke, U.S. Congressman Bobby Scott and Professor Emeritus Turner Spencer. Saying her mother knew many of the them, Toler noted how previous recipients have come from different walks of life, and they were all pioneers.

"My mom would just feel like she's in great company," Toler said. "Mom would just be thrilled to be up there with them."

Christian, who died in November, was a longtime supporter of Thomas Nelson, and education in general.

"She really loved the idea of community colleges because it worked," said Toler, who will accept the honor on her mother's behalf.

Toler learned at an early age, about 4 or 5, how important education was to her mother, accompanying her to school one day to see what it was her mother did as a teacher.

"She wanted me to see what she was doing. She took me into the setting," Toler explained. "And she said, 'I don't know what you will be one day, but this is what I do. And this is what I love.'"

Not surprisingly, Toler had a long career in education, from teacher to administration, from the Midwest to the South to the East Coast and overseas. She's been retired for 11 years.

Christian's accomplishments were many, among them the first black woman to serve on the Hampton School Board, first African American and the first woman to represent her district in Virginia's House of Delegates since Reconstruction, among the first African American appointees to the House Appropriations Committee.

She earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from then-Hampton Institute in 1955, a master's degree from Columbia University in 1960 and a Ph.D. in education from Michigan State University in 1967. She spent more than 25 yeas as a professor at Hampton University and retired in 1989 as dean of the school of education, taking on the title of professor emeritus.

The PLA ceremony, in Templin Hall was part of Black History Month at the College. The evening began with Morgan McCoy's "Evolution of a Black Girl" tour.

Toler said the honor would mean a lot to her mother.

"Even though she's not an award person, deep down inside, she would go, 'Wow. It did work. People did notice.'"

Toler hopes by putting her mother's name out there, others will be inspired to service the community and open doors, especially for those less fortunate and who may not have a voice.

"That's what she was really all about," Toler said.