A powerful testimony of resilience and faith from a school nutrition leader navigating grief while serving her community. Discover how true leadership shines brightest through personal loss and God's unwavering grace.
Her Story
About Marion
Marion Elder, MS is a respected school nutrition leader with more than 31 years of experience dedicated to advancing student health and academic success through high-quality school meal programs. She serves as the Director of School Nutrition for Dinwiddie County Public Schools, a position she has held for the past four years after spending 27 years with Brunswick County Public Schools, where she progressed from administrative assistant to Child Nutrition Supervisor. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership in overseeing comprehensive school nutrition operations, including menu planning, financial management, USDA regulatory compliance, food safety, and program administration, ensuring students receive nutritious meals that support their learning and overall well-being. Elder earned a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Grand Canyon University, building upon her associate and bachelor's degrees in organizational leadership. She is a certified ServeSafe Instructor and ServeSafe Proctor through the National Restaurant Association and is widely recognized for her commitment to excellence in school nutrition and operational leadership. An influential voice within her profession, she serves as President-Elect of the School Nutrition Association of Virginia and is an active member of the School Nutrition Association and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Her outstanding contributions have earned numerous honors, including the 2025 School Meals Renegade Award from the Chef Ann Foundation, the School Meals Hero Award, the Virginia School Boards Association Food for Thought Award, and the Lunch Trailblazer Award presented by Action for Healthy Kids and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Driven by a deep sense of purpose and servant leadership, Elder believes that proper nutrition is fundamental to every child's ability to learn, grow, and succeed. She credits her success to her unwavering faith in God, which continues to guide both her personal and professional life. Beyond her leadership in school nutrition, she is committed to serving her community through volunteer work with the Lupus Foundation of America, participation in breast cancer awareness and advocacy initiatives, and other efforts that promote health, education, and community well-being. Her passion for nourishing students, empowering colleagues, and advocating for children has established her as a trusted leader whose impact extends far beyond the cafeteria, shaping healthier futures for the communities she serves. She is a proud mother and grandmother.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Marion
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success first and foremost to God. My faith has been the foundation of my personal and professional journey, providing me with the strength, wisdom, and perseverance to overcome challenges and embrace new opportunities. I believe that every accomplishment is made possible through His guidance and grace. Without Him, I would not be the leader or the person I am today, and I strive to honor that faith by serving others with humility, integrity, and compassion in everything I do.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received has come from the people who invested in my growth and believed in my potential. My mentors, Gwendolyn McMillan and Larry Wade, along with my mother whose wisdom and encouragement continue to inspire me even after her passing taught me that true leadership is built on listening, compassion, and integrity. Their guidance showed me that success is not measured solely by personal achievements, but by the positive impact you have on others and the legacy you leave through service, character, and a genuine commitment to helping people succeed.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to invest in yourself through continuous learning. Take advantage of every training opportunity, certification, and professional development program available, because each one builds your knowledge, confidence, and leadership potential. Just as importantly, make networking a priority. Build meaningful relationships, seek out mentors, and engage with professional organizations. Don't stay on the sidelines—step forward, make connections, and create opportunities for growth. The relationships you build and the knowledge you gain will become invaluable assets throughout your career.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in school nutrition today is balancing increasingly stringent USDA nutrition regulations with the realities of rising food costs, staffing shortages, and limited budgets. We are continually working to meet evolving requirements, including lower sodium and reduced-fat standards, while still providing meals that are nutritious, appealing, and enjoyed by students. At the same time, these challenges present an opportunity to be more innovative, strengthen partnerships, and develop creative solutions that improve the quality of school meals. Our ultimate responsibility is to remain compliant while ensuring that every child has access to healthy, nourishing meals that support their learning, growth, and long-term success.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide both my work and personal life are faith, compassion, empathy, and service. My faith in God is the foundation of everything I do, giving me the strength, wisdom, and resilience to overcome life's greatest challenges, including cancer, lupus, diabetes, and the loss of my husband. Those experiences have strengthened my character and deepened my commitment to serving others with grace and humility. I believe in being a good listener, leading with empathy, and treating every person with kindness and respect. Through God's grace, I have learned to view every obstacle as a stepping stone for growth, and I strive each day to use my experiences to encourage, uplift, and make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Marion
Balancing Life, Loss, and Leadership: Leading Through the Storm
How Personal Grief Deepened My Understanding of Authentic Leadership and God's Unending Grace
Leading Through Loss: Finding Strength, Faith, and Purpose in Grief
There are seasons in life that no amount of education, experience, or preparation can fully prepare us for. Seasons when the weight of personal loss collides with professional responsibility. Seasons when your heart is broken, yet people still look to you for strength.
I have learned that true leadership is not demonstrated only during moments of celebration and success. It is revealed in how you continue to serve when your own soul is grieving.
The Unexpected Loss of My Beloved Husband
The unexpected loss of my beloved husband, Clifton, just eight months ago, forever changed my life. The silence that follows losing your best friend is unlike anything words can adequately describe.
Grief does not follow a schedule, nor does it ask permission before showing up. It can meet you in a boardroom, during a staff meeting, while driving to work, or even while celebrating someone else’s joy.
Yet, each day, I make a choice to keep moving forward—not because the pain has disappeared, but because God’s grace continues to carry me.
Leadership Has Never Been About Titles or Recognition
As a School Nutrition Leader, I have the privilege and responsibility of serving thousands of children every day. Behind every breakfast served and every lunch prepared is an opportunity to nourish not only bodies but futures.
Leadership has never been about titles or recognition. It has always been about people.
It is about encouraging a team that works tirelessly behind the scenes, reminding them that what they do matters, and ensuring every child receives a meal prepared with excellence, dignity, and love.
Balancing Life, Loss, and Leadership
Balancing life, loss, and leadership has required me to redefine strength.
Strength is allowing yourself to cry while still choosing to lead with compassion.
Strength is admitting that you do not have all the answers while trusting God to direct your next step.
Strength is understanding that vulnerability does not diminish leadership—it deepens it.
Faith Has Become My Anchor
Faith has become my anchor.
There have been countless mornings when I have whispered, “Lord, I do not know how I am going to make it through today.”
Every single time, He has faithfully provided exactly what I needed for that moment. Not always the strength for tomorrow, but enough grace for today.
God has reminded me that He never promised a life without storms, but He did promise that He would never leave us to weather them alone.
The Incredible Power of Community
I have also discovered the incredible power of community.
Family, friends, sorors, coworkers, church family, and countless people who have prayed for me have become living examples of God’s love.
Their encouragement has reminded me that even in our weakest moments, we are never meant to carry life’s burdens alone.
Celebrate Every Victory, No Matter How Small
This journey has taught me to celebrate every victory, no matter how small.
A smile that returns after weeks of tears.
A successful project completed despite emotional exhaustion.
A child thanking a cafeteria employee.
A team member growing into a confident leader.
These moments remind me that purpose still exists, even in the midst of pain.
Choosing Hope Over Despair
Leadership is not about pretending everything is okay.
It is about choosing hope over despair, faith over fear, and purpose over pain. It is about showing others that resilience is not born from avoiding hardship, but from trusting God through it.
If my story encourages even one person to keep going when they feel like giving up, then every tear has served a greater purpose.
My loss will always be a part of my story, but it will never be the end of it.
Life will test us.
Loss will change us.
Leadership will stretch us.
But when we place our trust in God, He transforms every trial into a testimony.
I am still healing. I still miss Cliff every single day. But I also know this:
God is not finished with me yet.
As long as He gives me breath, I will continue to lead with excellence, love with my whole heart, serve with humility, and trust Him with every step ahead.
Because the strongest leaders are not those who never break.
They are those who allow God to put the pieces back together and use every crack to let His light shine through.
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