In Memoriam: Marjorie Taylor Berkley, 1923-2017

Marjorie Berkley, a longtime faculty member and administrator at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia, died after suffering a heart attack at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. She was 93 years old.

Berkeley was a four-sport athlete at what is now James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. After graduating from James Madison in 1945, Berkeley served as chair of the women’s physical education department and athletic director at Lynchburg College in Virginia until 1956.

After coaching basketball at James Madison University for two years, Berkley was hired as a coach at Hollins University. She  coached basketball, field hockey, and tennis. Berkley also served as director of athletics at Hollins University from 1970 to 1985. Later, she served as chair of the physical education department at Hollins University from 1985 to 1989. Beginning in 1982, Berkley was associate commissioner for women’s athletics for the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. The conference’s award for the female athlete of the year is named in her honor.