Politics & Philanthropy

Part 3 of 3 Parts

After her mayoral term was up, she decided to finish her degree and re-enrolled at Duke University. In 1952, she was selected, as one of five Mothers of the Year, a nomination that she said was a "wonderful surprise." The following year, Mary Semans met Dr. James Semans, and they went on to marry and have four children together. In 1956, Mary's mother began the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, an enterprise that Mary inherited after her mother's death. She also inherited responsibility for the Duke Endowment, a task that engulfed her life to the extent that her husband later took over the Foundation.