Mary Rodd Furbee, a celebrated children’s book author and award-winning West Virginia University teacher, died Wednesday, April 21, at Ruby Memorial Hospital.
A joint family and WVU School of Journalism memorial service will be held for Furbee at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 29, in Elizabeth Moore Hall on the Downtown Campus.
Furbee, 49, was named the WVU P .I. Reed School of Journalism 2003-04 Adjunct Teacher of the Year last week.
For the past 25 years, Furbee worked as a writer, editor, television producer, college instructor and children’s book author. For nine years, she taught writing at the School of Journalism, where she also coordinated community journalism partnerships between the school and rural communities.
“Mary’s passion for writing and teaching was evident in everything she did. Her books, her students, her work in the Scott’s Run community and communities throughout West Virginia were a testament to her talent and skill,”said Christine Martin, WVU ’s vice president for Institutional Advancement and former School of Journalism dean.”She will be deeply missed by everyone in the School of Journalism and by writers throughout the state and region,”Martin said.
Furbee worked with students and community members to produce a quarterly community newspaper, The Compass, about the rural region of Scott’s Run. She taught students hands-on learning as they explored the community and reported on issues relating to education, government, the arts and social services.
“Mary taught me how to be a better editor and working for her was an important step in my growth and maturity. I’ll miss her, and I’m deeply sad that she is gone,”said Jennifer Roush, Furbee’s graduate assistant for two years and former managing editor of The Compass.
“She didn’t just send students out, she met and talked to people in the community. She was very easy to get along with, warm and welcoming. She had a wonderful sense of humor,”said Jacki Englehardt, Scott’s Run Settlement House executive director.
Furbee’s children’s books included”Outrageous Women of the American Frontier,”“Outrageous Women of Colonial America,”“Outrageous Women of Civil War Times”(John Wiley&Sons);”Shawnee Captive: The Story of Mary Draper Ingles,”“Anne Bailey: Frontier Scout and Wild Rose: Nancy Ward of the Cherokee”(Morgan Reynolds);”Women of the American Revolution and The Importance of Mohandas Gandhi”(Lucent Books). She also authored of The Complete Guide to West Virginia Inns (South Wind Publishing).
In addition to books, Furbee wrote feature articles, columns and book reviews for the Gannett News Service, Washington Post, Stars and Stripes, Cleveland Plain Dealer, State Journal, Charleston Gazette, Dominion Post, The Progressive, Blue Ridge Country, Goldenseal, Albion Monitor, Appalachian Journal, and other magazines and newspapers.
Furbee, who earned a master’s in journalism from WVU , also served as a frequent presenter for schools, libraries, clubs and organizations.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to Morgantown Health Right, 341 Spruce St., Morgantown.