Funeral services Saturday for Mary Chambliss, longtime FAS official
January 11, 2013 | 12:31 PM
Mary Chambliss, a key official in the Agriculture Department’s Foreign Agricultural Service and leader on food aid issues, died Tuesday in Arlington, Va., at the age of 70 after a brief illness.
Chambliss worked in the Agriculture Department for more than 40 years, retiring in 2006 as FAS deputy administrator for export credits. Earlier, she was FAS acting administrator, general sales manager and associate administrator.
She was also a senior official in the Office of International Cooperation and Development and an officer in the International Development Cooperation Agency.
Chambliss worked closely with the Office of the Secretary of USDA, USAID, the State Department, the UN World Food Program (WFP), and with many nongovernmental organizations on policy and implementation of effective food aid programs.
She was a delegate to the first meeting of the governing body of the World Food Program, the Committee on Food Aid, and of the first meeting of its successor executive board. She played a key role in implementing the McGovern-Dole international school feeding program.
After her retirement, she was a member of the board of directors of the Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa, and a volunteer for many organizations working on new approaches to agriculture and food security.
Chambliss is survived by her son, Dean, his wife, Pascoa, and three grandchildren.
On Saturday the family will receive visitors from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Demaine Memorial Chapel, 520 S. Washington St, Alexandria. A memorial service will be held at the chapel at 1 p.m. Burial will be at Arlington Cemetery on January 16 at 2 p.m. next to her husband, Samuel, who predeceased her.
The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, friends consider making donations in her honor to the World Food Program.
Chambliss worked in the Agriculture Department for more than 40 years, retiring in 2006 as FAS deputy administrator for export credits. Earlier, she was FAS acting administrator, general sales manager and associate administrator.
She was also a senior official in the Office of International Cooperation and Development and an officer in the International Development Cooperation Agency.
Chambliss worked closely with the Office of the Secretary of USDA, USAID, the State Department, the UN World Food Program (WFP), and with many nongovernmental organizations on policy and implementation of effective food aid programs.
She was a delegate to the first meeting of the governing body of the World Food Program, the Committee on Food Aid, and of the first meeting of its successor executive board. She played a key role in implementing the McGovern-Dole international school feeding program.
After her retirement, she was a member of the board of directors of the Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa, and a volunteer for many organizations working on new approaches to agriculture and food security.
Chambliss is survived by her son, Dean, his wife, Pascoa, and three grandchildren.
On Saturday the family will receive visitors from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Demaine Memorial Chapel, 520 S. Washington St, Alexandria. A memorial service will be held at the chapel at 1 p.m. Burial will be at Arlington Cemetery on January 16 at 2 p.m. next to her husband, Samuel, who predeceased her.
The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, friends consider making donations in her honor to the World Food Program.
