Trailblazer, lifelong St. Louis citizen, educator, and community leader Mary Attyberry Polk passed away peacefully on Friday, March 1 at her apartment in the Brentmoor Retirement Community with her only child, Mary Olivia Polk, M.D. at her side. She was 91.
For more than seven decades, Attyberry Polk devoted herself to educational, social, civic, artistic, and cultural pursuits in her beloved St. Louis. She was known for her leadership, positive attitude, precise language, meticulous and stylish appearance, determination, and her cultural, civic and family pride.
Professionally, Attyberry Polk was an educator who held numerous positions in the Saint Louis Public Schools, starting as a classroom teacher and progressing to leadership and supervisory positions, including principal.
“She was a retired educator, very passionate about education,” said family friend Dana Randolph. “That continued after retirement. She continued to volunteer in the community and serve as a mentor to students.”
Her participatory interests, leadership and community involvement was wide-ranging, including service as past president or officer of several organizations.
“She was one of those efficient ladies and very good at organizing all kinds of programs,” her friend Sandra Murdock said.
Attyberry Polk held mayoral appointments to the St. Louis Board of Equalization and the Board of Forest Park Forever. She was a beloved and enthusiastic member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Urban League, St. Louis Moles, Carousels of St. Louis, St. Louis Chapter of Smart Set, The Paupers Club, Top Ladies of Distinction, Gateway Chapter of The Links Inc., NAACP, Harris-Stowe Alumni Association, Arts & Education Council, St. Louis Black Repertory Theatre, Smart Investors Club, United Way Leadership Giving Society, WUSTL Alzheimer’s Disease Research Committee and the YWCA.
Attyberry Polk is also remembered for her long-running social column “St. Louis Social Scene,” published in the St. Louis Metro Sentinel newspaper, which provided information about cultural, artistic, civic, and positive African-American happenings.
“For more than 40 years, she wrote a social column that made the black community and the white community aware that black people have distinctions that they’re earning and they have social functions and philanthropic and community organizations that are important, and they do good work and they deserve to be recognized,” said Attyberry Polk’s son-in-law Luther Rollins Jr.
“Her column was very, very popular, and she knew everything about everybody in St. Louis and also in many other cities,” Randolph said. “She loved people and she loved history and liked to know the background of people.”
Rollins also described her as being among true trailblazers who broke through many barriers. “By educating themselves and carrying themselves with distinction,” he said, “they cleared the path for lots of other African Americans who are enjoying success and fullness of American society today.”
From Sumner to Stowe to WUSTL
Mary Attyberry was born July 13, 1927, to Robert Fernandez and Leola (Wicks) Attyberry. She was one of six children born of this union, and each was encouraged, loved and nurtured to attain education and success by her parents. She was baptized and remained throughout her life a member of Central Baptist Church in St. Louis.
She attended Marshall Elementary School and Sumner High School in St. Louis. After high school graduation, she matriculated to Stowe Teacher’s College and graduated with a B.A. in 1948. She was one of the earliest African-American graduate students at Washington University and earned an M.A. in Elementary Education in 1952.
In 1950, Mary Attyberry married George Douglas Polk, a WWII U.S. Navy veteran and graduate of Lincoln University and Saint Louis University. He preceded her in death on October 15, 1985. Mary and George had one child, Mary Olivia.
Attyberry Polk also was preceded in death by her parents, sister Barbara and brothers Vincent, Wicks, Harold.
She is survived by her daughter, Mary Olivia (Luther Rollins Jr.) Polk M.D. of Hickory, North Carolina; sister, Linnie Sims of Chicago; grandchildren, Jordan Mann of Providence, Rhode Island and Madison Mann of New York City; niece, Barbara Chandler of St. Louis; nephew, Delbert Sims (Regina) of Chicago; great-nephew, Kingston Sims of Chicago; special nephew, Vincent (Kim) of Flint, Michigan; and numerous cherished relatives and friends.
Viewing and visitation will be held 1:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 10 at Central Baptist Church, 2842 Washington Ave. in St. Louis with the funeral following at 5 p.m. Burial will take place the following day at Jefferson Barracks Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in memory of Mary Attyberry Polk be sent to Harris-Stowe State University, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, or the Alzheimer’s Association of St. Louis.
