Maryjane Hobbs

As a child, Maryjane Hobbs (nee Black) lived on Harrison Street, an easy walk to her elementary and junior high schools, and then to E. C. Glass High School, located at that time on Park Avenue. She graduated in 1941 and immediately enrolled at Glass for a postgraduate year in commercial studies. For the next five years Maryjane worked as a kindergarten assistant at Ruffner School. She also pursued studies at Phillips Business College and in 1948 completed her program and married Frank Hobbs. The couple moved to Charlottesville where she found employment as a secretary in the Department of Neurological Surgery.

Maryjane, along with a new baby daughter, Rebecca Hobbs (Howerton), returned to Lynchburg in 1951 and resided with her parents while Frank saw military duty overseas. Upon his return to the States in 1953, they moved to Detroit, Michigan, and finally returned to Lynchburg in 1956. Over the years, her family grew to include two more daughters and a son—Beverly Wilson and Valerie St John, both of Lynchburg, and Frank Hobbs, Jr., who lives in Delaware, Ohio.

A natural musician, music has long played a major part in Maryjane’s life. She easily mastered the piano, playing by ear as a child, and at age 18 had her first organ lesson. She has worked in various churches, holding as many music-related jobs as can be found in a church—music director, choir director, organist, soloist—both in contractual positions and as a substitute. She has additionally served as the soloist for special occasions, including weddings and funerals, and starred in a number of musical productions at the now-defunct Lynchburg Fine Arts Center.

With a strong appetite for learning and personal growth, Maryjane in 1972 embarked upon a quest that took her to Kansas City to enroll in the Unity School of Christianity. In order to continue to fulfill her responsibilities at home it took Maryjane ten years to complete a curriculum that consisted of two-week sessions. Since then, through teaching, she has in turn supported others as they have navigated their own spiritual journeys.

Once settled in her apartment, Maryjane plans to observe life at Westminster Canterbury carefully and looks forward to finding new activities to explore, such as participating in the monthly poetry meetings and attending Bible classes.