The Girls Scouts of Historic Georgia named Mary Lynn Coyle, chair of the Northeast Georgia Health System Board, as this year’s Gainesville Woman of Distinction.
Coyle was honored by the organization at a luncheon Wednesday at the Chattahoochee Country Club.
The Girl Scouts Woman of Distinction award is presented to a woman who not only reflects the values of the Girl Scout Promise and Law but who is also seen as a positive role model for girls enrolled in the program.
Mary Lynn Coyle has lived in Gainesville since she was two years old. Her father, Dr. William Cullen McCarver was an original medical staffer of Hall County Hospital, which would later be known as Northeast Georgia Medical Center. Just like her father, as chairwoman Coyle continues to help make the community a premier health center through her leadership.
Coyle has served on the NGHS boards since 2002. Her services have included co-chairing the very first Marketplace Fundraiser in 1991, chairing the Unification committee of NGHS and Lanier Park, serving as NGHS Board Chair from 2007-2017 and Board Chair Emeritus from 2017 until the present. Coyle has also taken several volunteer positions over the years.
Outside of NGHS, Coyle has worked as an elementary school teacher, Vice-President of Howard Enterprises, Developer of Factory Merchants Outlet Mall in Pigeon Forge and Owner of Broken Arrow Antiques in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Her community involvement includes leadership roles in The Arts Council, Gainesville Ballet, Elachee Nature Science Center, the Quinlan Visual Arts Center, Gainesville-Hall Community Food Pantry, Brenau University, and the 1996 Olympics-Gainesville Rowing Venue.
Along with receiving the title of Woman of Distinction for 2023, Coyle has also received community honors such as the Brenau University Women’s College Distinguished Service Award in 1999, Rotary Woman of the Year in 2011, and 2013 Boy Scout American Values Honoree.
Coyle is married to John Pierce (Johnny) Coyle and they have three children and seven grandchildren. Johnny and Mary Lynn are members of Grace Episcopal Church, where she has served in numerous roles including vestry member and senior warden.
