Mary was born as the third child to Stephen and Dorothy Wheatland on January 13, 1927, in Boston, Massachusetts. Raised in Bangor and Sorrento, Maine, and later in Brookline, Massachusetts, Mary attended Vassar College to study science and music, matriculated to Yale University School of Medicine, and did her residency at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. There she met Francis Brooking Schley, Jr. They were married in 1955, and moved to Columbus where Frank continued his father’s pediatric medical practice, and Mary embarked on a multifaceted career of service to the community that earned many high commendations and four major awards..
An accomplished violinist, she joined the Columbus Symphony Orchestra in 1958, thenceforth supporting and developing as musician, board member, and donor, and sitting as first violist for many years. An indefatigable and visionary physician, Mary co-founded and conducted health centers, clinics, and programs directed for the benefit of the disabled and the indigent community; served and chaired the Board of The Medical Center Hospital Authority, and chaired the committee that advocated and planned for, and ultimately undertook the monumental construction of a replacement hospital facility to serve the needs of the region. Mary’s outstanding services to the improvement of medicine in the Chattahoochee Valley were recognized with the following awards: Woman of the Year from the Columbus Business and Professional Women’s Club in 1979; The Distinguished Service Award from the Georgia Hospital Association in 1980; The Civic Endeavor Award of the Medical Association of Georgia in 1991; and The Dan Reed Rotary Award for Service Above Self in 2002. A committed advocate for education and the arts, Mary co-founded and generously sustained Brookstone School where she served and chaired the board for many years. She was regional representative of the Alumni Council of Yale University. She served the Springer Opera House, Columbus Museum, and Junior League of Columbus. Columbus State University awarded Mary an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2006 and named the Schley Medical Sciences Suite in recognition of her contributions in 2018.
Mary was devoted to her husband, Dr. Frank Schley, ever by his side both for his pediatric practice and for their farm in Harris County. She raised four sons to share her dedication to science, arts and education, pleasure sailing and racing, silviculture, gardening, land management, travel and love of nature. She indulged her nine grandchildren and took them on educational excursions world wide. Her departure from this life leaves an empty chair, but a vast and enduring legacy.
Mary is predeceased by her husband, Dr. Francis Brooking Schley, Jr., her brother, Richard Wheatland II, and her sister, Sarah Wheatland Richards. She is survived by her sister, Alice Nesbit Wellman; her four sons, Francis Brooking Schley III (Meg Horsey), William Cook Schley (Kimberly Tucker), Stephen Wheatland Schley (Lizabeth King), and John Fulton Schley (Margaret Jenkins); her grandchildren, Francis Brooking Schley IV (Ashley Lee), William Parker Schley, Lucia Schley Dempsey (John), Stephen Douglas Schley, Mary Grace Schley, Mary Margaret Schley Monsees (Sanders), George Stanley Schley, Jack Pease Schley (Caroline Walker), and Isabel Andrews Schley; and her great-grandchildren, Henry (Huck) Sanders Monsees III and Vivian Schley Monsees.
There will be a private burial in Linwood Cemetery. A celebration of life is scheduled for 4:30PM, September 17, 2022 in the Robert Sommerville Schley Gallery of the Corn Center at Columbus State University.
In memory of Dr. Mary W. Schley, or in lieu of flowers, please consider donation to Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Springer Opera House, Columbus State University Endowment Fund, Brookstone School, or Frenchman Bay Conservancy.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.shcolumbus.com for the Schley family.
