BIOGRAPHY OF
REVEREND MARY EDITH MOODY
On July 29, 1926, the late Mr. and Mrs. James N. Moody, Sr. were graciously blessed
with Mary Edith Moody, who was one of nine children that included seven sons and one other
daughter.
Being a native of Baton Rouge, Reverend Moody attended both elementary and high
school in Baton Rouge, graduating from Southern University Lab School. She received two
Bachelors Degrees from Southern University, the first being a Bachelor of Science in Business
Education and the other, a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education. Reverend Moody later
received a Masters Degree in Education from Louisiana State University and a Certificate of
Theology from the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Her other
studies included attendance at Roosevelt University in Chicago; Candler School of Theology,
Emory University, Atlanta and Pius XII Provincial Seminary, Brisbane, Australia.
Reverend Mood is a member and Associate Pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal
Church in Baton Rouge. She is a retired teacher of English and Business Education at the
Louisiana State School for the Blind, located at Southern University, having taught at the school
for over 30 years. Highlights of her other ministerial positions include Pastor of Heard Chapel
AME from 1987 to 1996; Mt. Everett AME Church, 1985 to 1987. Rev. Moody was ordained to
the ministry in 1976 as of a few ordained women ministers at that time.
An outstanding community activist, Reverend Moody is involved with numerous
organizations including Young Women Christian Association, Citizens Committee on Public
School Facilities, former board member for Capital Area Legal Services, Citizens’ Task Force on
Education Improvements, member of the Board of Directors of Mid City Redevelopment
Alliance as well as former Chairperson of the Community Development Committee and a Team
Captain for FIXUP! Mid City. Reverend Moody also serves as the chairperson of Dufrocq
Elementary’s Citizens Advisory Task Force.
Reverend Moody has also received many awards and recognitions including Teacher of
the Year Awards from the Louisiana State School for the Blind at Southern University in 1968,
1972 and 1973; 1974 National Outstanding Secondary Educator of America Award; 1975 Links
Outstanding Woman of Baton Rouge; 1992 Humanitarian Award from the Eunice Paddio-
Johnson Foundation; 1999 Golden Service Award for 50 years of Christian Service presented by
Bethel African American Episcopal Church; 2000 J. C. Penny Golden Rule Award; and the 2001
Powell-Reznikoff Award for Humanitarian Service.
In her own words, Reverend Moody states, “I am dedicated and devoted to my family
and my fellowman, a Christian and a sincere lover of people. Children are especially dear to me!
I am a child of the King and am committed to the concept of ‘Finer Womanhood”. This is really
the only part of this information that is needed. All the other details are embodied in this
thoughts.”