ROBIN MAYS, former Publishers Weekly Southern sales and marketing manager and national religion marketing manager, died March 28 in Marietta, Ga. She was 56. Mays was a driving force in the expansion of PW's religion coverage, beginning in the late 1980s when she spearheaded market studies that heralded the coming boom in the category. Her vision, foresight and passion were central to the increased breadth and quality of religion coverage in the magazine.
Earlier, that same energy had been focused on her territory. Until her death, Mays remained fervent in her commitment to Southern authors, publishers and booksellers. In 1984, she helped found the Publishers Association of the South. Several years later, PAS established the Robin Mays Award in her honor, to be given to book industry people who have made "unusual and sustained contributions" to publishing in the South. A memorial service is being planned in Atlanta for early May and there will be a commemoration at BEA (details to be announced). A fund in Mays's memory has been set up with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Donations may be sent to: Susan G. Komen Foundation, P.O. Box 97100, Dallas, Tex. 75397; please note "In Memory of Robin Mays."
