The Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services (MHDS) Board will induct posthumously P. Dale McMahon and Steve Lamarr Hixon into the Mary Ann Bergeron Hall of Fame in a ceremony at 4 p.m. Thursday, June 15, at the East Center, 3908 Nine Mile Road.
McMahon and Hixon will be honored for their service, commitment and significant contributions to the MHDS Board, the agency and individuals and families receiving services. The hall of fame is named in honor of Mary Ann Bergeron, the founding executive director of the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards, who served the association from 1989 to 2014.
McMahon held several positions during her career of more than 20 years with MHDS, finishing her service with the agency as program manager of adult recovery services. Known for her innovative ideas regarding alternative housing options, she was responsible for securing beds in assisted living facilities to ensure individuals would have access to safe housing should they experience a housing crisis. A licensed clinical nurse specialist, McMahon developed a medical nursing team that provided direct care, such as injections and medication management services, as well as holistic care, including education on multiple medical diagnoses such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity. The team also provided individual interventions and support groups on nutrition, exercise and other health-related topics.
In addition, McMahon worked with the State Pharmacy and Patient Assistant programs to ensure that individuals were able to afford medications that would support their recovery. She died earlier this month.
Hixon, who spent his 33-year career as a clinician with the prevention unit of MHDS, was known as a trailblazer and advocate for the needs of the community. He was instrumental in the development of a number of programs and initiatives, including the CONNECT Program, Teen Job Preparation Program, Youth Ambassadors, Clinical Minority Support Group and Student at Lunch Time Discussion. Hixon established partnerships between MHDS and a range of educational and community-based organizations, such as the Henrico Too Smart 2 Start Coalition, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Charles City Health Coalition, BeWellVA, Henrico Police Athletic League and Virginia Union Advisory Board. He often represented MHDS at regional, state and national prevention workshops and contributed to the development of new prevention initiatives. He died in January 2022.
With their inductions, McMahon’s and Hixon’s names will be added to a permanent display of the Mary Ann Bergeron Hall of Fame at the MHDS offices on Woodman Road. More information about the Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services Board is available at henrico.us/mhds/about-us/.
