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Margaret Marshall Oliver
African Americans had made significant progress by the turn of the century,
which was less than fifty years of freedom (from chattel slavery), which was
abolished throughout the United States of America. Even so, 1911 stands out
as the pivotal year for descendents of slaves who no longer were satisfied
with simply being freed from bondage, but started economy movements in an
effort to share an equitable portion of the American Dream, that not only
guaranteed a piece of the economy pie, but (a more abundant) life, liberty
and pursuit of happiness. Black History records that the founding of the The
National Urban League (NUL), perhaps, played the most significant role in
escalating the 20th Century’s Freedom Movement.
NUL grew out of a spontaneous grassroots movement for freedom and
opportunity that came to be called the “Black Migrations.” When the U.S.
Supreme Court declared its approval of segregation in the 1896 Plessy v.
Ferguson decision, the brutal system of economic, social and political
oppression (that the White South quickly adopted) rapidly transformed-- what
had been a trickle of African Americans northward-- into a flood, but sadly,
those fleeing North soon discovered they couldn’t out run racial
discrimination. They still were excluded from all but menial jobs in the
larger society, victimized by poor housing and education, and inexperienced
in the ways of urban living, many lived in terrible social and economic
conditions. Still, in the degree of difference between South and North lay
opportunity, and that African Americans clearly understood.
But to capitalize on that opportunity, to successfully adapt to urban life
and to reduce the pervasive discrimination they faced, they would need help.
That was the reason the Committee on Urban Conditions Among Negroes was
established on September 29, 1910 in New York City. Central to the
organization's founding were two remarkable people: Mrs. Ruth Standish
Baldwin and Dr. George Edmund Haynes, who would become the Committee's first
executive secretary. Mrs. Baldwin, the widow of a railroad magnate and a
member of one of America's oldest families, had a remarkable social
conscience and was a stalwart champion of the poor and disadvantaged. Dr.
Haynes, a graduate of Fisk University, Yale University, and Columbia
University (he was the first African American to receive a doctorate from
that institution), equipped him to do great things.
He felt a compelling need to use his training as a social worker to serve
his people. A year later, the Committee merged with the Committee for the
Improvement of Industrial Conditions Among Negroes in New York (founded in
New York in 1906), and the National League for the Protection of Colored
Women (founded in 1905) to form the National League on Urban Conditions
Among Negroes. In 1920, the name was later shortened to the National Urban
League. Meanwhile, another movement was taking place in Chapel Hill (a small
hamlet off Farm Road 2088 fifteen miles northwest of Gilmer in northwestern
Upshur County), which would positively touch the lives of many young African
Americans. On March 19, 1911, that movement became a small blessing for Mary
Marshall when she gave birth to her second of five children.
Mary’s proud husband, Andrew, took one look at his new daughter and, no
doubt, thought she was the sweetest little baby that he had every seen. They
named her Margaret, but obviously everybody who saw her agreed with her
father, therefore she would be affectionately be called “Honey,” as she
flowered into womanhood. As it was the custom of an era when FAMILY VALUES
were spelled with capital letters in Black American’s lexicon, Mary accepted
Christ on a rainy day, at a very early age and was baptized by Rev. A. E.
Evans at "Little" Baptist Church in Chapel Hill. God blessed Mary with a
beautiful voice, therefore it was apropos that the Jan. 11, 2004 celebration
of her life at Pleasant Hill BC, 1510 Pannell, was highlighted by some of
Houston’s best musicians.
The dynamic soprano Barbara Tucker song “I Have Hope,” and Rev. John Murray,
the Minister of Comfort at Northwest Community of Faith, rendered special
music. W. Keith Eason, Director of Music at Covenant Glenn UMC led a medley
of Sis. Oliver’s favorite songs, with Rev. Michael Pickett, Pleasant Hill’s
Minister of Music at the piano. Sis. Joyce Adams read the Eulogistic
Statement and expressions came from Sis. Wilella Kimble, Good Hope BC and
Pleasant Hill Village. “Order My Steps,” written by Sis. Oliver’s friend,
Bro. Glenn Burleigh was a fitting song for the recessional, for the
homegoing service that was officiated by her Pastor, Rev. Harvey Clemons,
Jr. Deacon Norman Tibbs, Bro. Harvey Clemons, III, Bro. Albert Evans, Bro.
Elie Gordon, Deacon Rudolph White and Bishop Ed Johnson were honorary
pallbearers.
Active pallbearers were her nephews and great-nephews, whom she loved to
hang with. Especially after she retired from The Houston Independent School
District, where she worked as a Clerk/Cashier at Grimes Elementary School.
Margaret loved to sing and sew and she was quite a good speaker. She was
active for as long as she could be, in each of the churches she united with
in Houston (Progressive New Hope, under Rev. N. S. Brown; Good Hope Baptist,
under Pastor Emeritus C. W. Kimble and Sr. Pastor D. Z. Cofield and finally,
her beloved Pleasant Hill. Margaret lived a full and happy life. She was
married to A. D. Oliver and had one son, Robert, both of who preceded her in
death. Her only sister, Mellownee Marshall Sanders and brother, Gloster
Marshall , also preceded her in death and were saving a seat for her in
heaven.
Her memory is cherished by one daughter-in law Joyce Oliver, five
grandchildren, Robert Oliver, Jr. (Patricia) of Fort Worth, Texas, Mrs.
Katherine Lesesne (Pierre), Kevin Oliver (Donna), Michael Oliver, and Lauren
Oliver all of Washington, D.C.; ten great-grand- children, two sisters Mrs.
Laney Lacy and Mrs. Eva Jackson, both of Houston, a host of nieces and
nephews, and many other family members and friends. Her extended family
included special friends Mrs. Edith Glover, Mr. Elie Gordon, Wilford and
Wanda Davis, Mrs. Illa Faye Hearn, Mrs. Pamelar Green and Mrs. Barbara
Tucker & Family. ~
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