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The daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Louis Payne of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the former Mary Wood Payne was born in Jasper, Alabama and graduated from Central High School in Tuscaloosa. She graduated from Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, majoring in Economics with emphasis in Marketing. Following graduation, Mary Wood worked in print and broadcast advertising. Consistent with her commitment to community service, she accepted a position with the State Ombudsman's Division, where she was involved in the investigation of cases of institutional abuse and neglect. She met David Beasley when he was a young, rising star in the state's legislature and they were married in 1988. Committed to their platform of "Putting Families First," David and Mary Wood practice what they preach in the lives of their three children, Mary Hunter (7); Sarah Catherine (5); and David, Jr. (4).
In addition to being a devoted wife and mother, Mary Wood is an advocate for South Carolina families. In 1995, she and the Governor established the Putting Families First Foundation which encourages the private sector to help welfare families become independent. Mary Wood is an advocate for volunteerism and promotes those who work as volunteers in numerous programs. In January 1997, Mary Wood launched the First Lady's Campaign for Women's Health, which focuses on the importance of physical activity.
The First Lady also holds an honorary chair position on the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation "Race for the Cure", The American Cancer Society's First Lady Fashion Show, the American Recycle Campaign, the SC Neural Tube Defect Campaign, and the American Heart Association. Mary Wood actively promotes programs that foster children's safety and health programs such as Caring For Tomorrow's Children. She is the honorary spokesperson for the South Carolina SAFE KIDS Coalition . Interested in arts education, Mary Wood is a member of the Art in Basic Curriculum (ABC) Steering Committee defining specific goals, content, and competencies for the arts in South Carolina schools. Mary Wood was awarded an honorary Doctorate Degree of Humane Letters from the Medical University of South Carolina and was the 1996 Distinguished Service Award recipient at Charleston Southern University. She received the South Carolina Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance advocacy award for her role in promoting women's health and encouraging families to be physically active.
Mary Wood's rare leisure activities include horseback riding, canoeing, crafts, and she is a certified SCUBA diver. The Beasleys are active members of Shandon Baptist Church in Columbia.