Mai Bell Conley Hurley
Mai Bell Conley Hurley, 87, of Chattanooga, passed away in the early morning hours on Friday, September 4, 2015.
Mrs. Hurley was the widow of Provident executive Bernard T. Hurley, Jr. They were married for 57 years. Mrs. Hurley is survived by her son, B.T. (Tal) Hurley III and daughter Marie Hurley Blair (Duncan Blair) and two granddaughters, Marian Blair and Eleanor Blair.
Mrs. Hurley graduated from Bright School and Girls Preparatory School. She attended the University of Chattanooga and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Phi Beta Kappa. Later she served on the boards of GPS and Bright School and was chair of the board at GPS.
Active in the civic life of the community she was interested in the arts, social services, education, the church and government.
She was a member of the second panel of the Tennessee Arts Commission and served as chair for two years. A founding member of Allied Arts she served as chair and campaign chair. Mrs. Hurley was a member of the Chattanooga Symphony guild and Chattanooga Symphony Board and chaired each. She also was a board member of the Creative Discovery Museum, and the Regional History Museum.
She was a member and president of the Junior League of Chattanooga.
She was the first woman to chair the United Way board and a United Way campaign. She was deeply involved in children's issues and in the creation of Invest in Children. A founding member of Family and Children's Services, now the Partnership, she was its first chair. From there she became a member and chair of the Child Welfare League of America and the Council on Accreditation. President Reagan appointed her to the National Commission on Children and she served under the leadership of Senator Jay Rockefeller. She was a member of the board of the Fortwood Center and served as its chair. When it joined the Helen Ross McNabb Center she continued to serve.
Her community involvement included the creation of Chattanooga Venture and Vision 2000. She was the first chair of Chattanooga Venture. Involved in the implementation of Vision’s priorities, she became a board member of the Tennessee Aquarium, and with Carey Hanlin worked to complete its fund raising which had already been significantly begun by Jack Lupton.
She was a member of the Lyndhurst foundation for five years.
With the creation of the new form of government, she ran for and was elected to the new council. She served for 11 years, two as chairwoman. She was the first woman elected to city government.
An active member of the First-Centenary United Methodist, she was its first woman board chair and served on many of its committees including the development committee for the Oak Street Center. As a delegate to the Holsten Conference she served as chair of the Finance Committee.
Mrs. Hurley was a devoted member of the board of the Public Library, having served as chair a number of years ago. She was a founding member of Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprises and continued on its board for a number of years.
She was a member of the First Tennessee Bank Board.
She was the recipient of the Kiwanis Distinguished Service Award, the A to Z award, and the Bright School Fletcher Bright award. She was chosen a Tennessee Woman of Distinction. Most recently, she was the first recipient of ArtsBuild’s Ruth Holmberg 2015 Arts and Leadership Award in honor of her dear friend with whom she shared so many civic endeavors.
In all things, Mrs. Hurley led with grace, humility and deep dedication. As mentor, facilitator, and trailblazer, she leaves her footprints throughout Chattanooga and in the hearts of all who loved her.
The family wishes to thank oncologist Dr. Brooke Daniel for her tireless support and the kind dedication of the staffs of Memorial Hospital Oncology Unit, Alexian Village Rehabilitation Center, Manorhouse Assisted Living, and Hospice of Chattanooga.
A service of Remembrance and Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10, in the sanctuary of First-Centenary United Methodist Church, 419 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, Tn. 37402, with Dr. Doug Fairbanks and Dr. Linda McDaniel officiating. Interment will follow in the Memorial Garden.
The family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10, in the Fellowship Hall at First Centenary United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes contributions to the Chattanooga Symphony and to the Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise.
Please visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to share words of comfort to the family.
Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Road.