Welcome, Mary!

The Northeast Georgia History Center is excited to welcome Mary Hemmer as our new Executive Director.  Besides being a member of one of Hall Counties most “historic” families, Mary brings an array of experiences in business, organizational management, leadership, education and community engagement to her new role with the History Center. 

Raised in Gainesville, Mary brings an unparalleled knowledge, connection to and appreciation of the rich, textured history of her hometown and the Northeast Georgia community.  She attended Lakeview Academy before earning a BA in Religion in 1999 from Washington and Lee University and a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University in 2003.  After she was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 2004, Mary has worked with congregations in Virginia and Georgia where she oversaw the administration, finances, events, fundraising, community building and other aspects of church life.  She continues to preach, teach and lead workshops and retreats at churches throughout the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta.  

As a successful workshop leader, Mary designs and leads workshops and retreats for businesses, other organizations and individuals on topics ranging from strategic planning, board development to personal exploration, spirituality to writing and storytelling. 

Mary is also the author of two books and contributed to a third, Phe and the Work of Death, Buttermilk and Dragonflies and In the Beginning Was the Word: An Anthology.  

In 2024 Mary opened for her family a small locally-sourced grocery and boutique store located in a restored 1850’s farmhouse on her family property. During this process, she oversaw the farmhouse restoration, established relationships with local, regional and national vendors, helped develop marketing and social media campaigns and partnerships with local businesses and non-profits to plan events and promotional campaigns.  

Mary and her family live on the same East Hall farm that her family has occupied for nearly 225 years.