Marjory Heath Wentworth

Marjory Heath Wentworth (born June 3, 1958) is an American poet. She was named by Governor Mark Sanford as the sixth South Carolina Poet Laureate in 2003.

Biography

Early life and education Wentworth was born Marjory Heath on June 3, 1958, in Lynn, Massachusetts, and raised in nearby Swampscott. Her parents were John and Mary (Tully) Heath. As a child, she spent many years in and out of hospitals to correct some congenital organ anomalies. Adding further hardship was that her father, John, a purchasing agent for Parker Brothers, died of leukemia when she was just 14 years old.

She graduated from Mount Holyoke College (where she majored in anthropology, political science, and dance) She also teaches at the Charleston County School of the Arts She is also president of the Lowcountry Initiative for the Literary Arts.

Wentworth and her husband Peter run Wentworth PR which manages public relations for publishers and authors such as Dottie Frank, Mary Alice Monroe, and Gary Smith. Usually given a small honorarium ($1,200) as poet laureate, this honorarium was cut by Sanford in 2003 when Wentworth agreed to serve without the pay. As poet laureate, Wentworth is on the board of directors of The Poetry Society of South Carolina.

Personal life She is married to filmmaker Peter Wentworth and they have three sons. They were introduced by her brother, Jack, and were married soon after graduating from college,

Wentworth is a close friend of former South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford.

Awards and honors Pushcart Prize nominee several times. South Carolina Poet Laureate, 2003–present

Works Wentworth's poetry collections include:

Art by Mary Edna Fraser

Other works include: Illustrated by Leslie Darwin Pratt-Thomas