Mary Lu Dempsey

Mary Lucille "Mary Lu" Miller Dempsey, 82, Shelbyville, died Friday, December 23, 2022 at Masonic Home of Shelbyville following a long illness. A native of Hopkinsville, she was the daughter of the late Frank M. and Lucille Morgan Miller. She first studied at the H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College in 1957 and 1958. She graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor's of Arts in journalism and is certified through SALGBA. Her long and distinguished career spanned more than 40 years with state government, serving under former Governors Breathitt, Carroll, Collins, Jones and Patton.
Her early career began in journalism as a reporter for the Evansville Press in Evansville, IN. She later served as assistant editor of the woman's page in the Fort Lauderdale Sun in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and as the Women's Editor for the Kentucky New Era in Hopkinsville, KY.
Her roles in Kentucky State Government included director of the Health Insurance Benefits Administration and working for the Department of Personnel. She was responsible for creating a self-insurance program for health care in the Commonwealth of Kentucky called Kentucky Kare. She also served as vice president of marketing for the National Health Care Services in Louisville and director of personnel for the City of Hopkinsville. She was a charter member and helped form a national organization for government insurance administrators, the State and Local Government Benefits Association (SALGBA), where she initiated an accreditation program for state and local government insurance benefit professionals.
In addition to being a strong leader, she was also deeply involved in her community. She served as publicity chair for the Democratic Women of Kentucky in Frankfort, president of the Grace Episcopal Church Women and president of the La Jardinere Garden Club. She is past president and member of the board of directors of the Kentucky Intergovernmental Personnel Association and SALGBA.
Journalism awards included a Community Appreciation Award from the City of Hopkinsville for a series of articles she wrote on how the city escaped the recession of 1968 and a Kentucky Press Association Award for Best Woman's Page. In June 2019, she was awarded the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award and is listed in Marquis Who's Who. She also loved to read, to garden and to cook wonderful meals for her family and friends.
Survivors include her loving husband of 57 years, Rodney P. Dempsey of Shelbyville; two sons, Frank Dempsey (Susan) of Shelbyville and Tom Dempsey of Louisville; two granddaughters, Lucille Marie Dempsey of Superior, WI and Patricia "Juniper" Leslie Dempsey of Louisville and one great-grandchild, Parker Lynn Valentine of Superior, WI.
Cremation has been selected in accordance with her wishes. The family is planning a memorial service to be held in Hopkinsville in the spring.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to Alzheimer's Association. Envelopes are available through the funeral home.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Webb Funeral Home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.webbfuneralhome.com.