Margaret Jackson Williams' Obituary
With deep sadness and eternal love, the family of Margaret J. Williams announces her peaceful passing on January 16, 2016. We invite those who knew and loved her to express fond memories and condolences on the “Share a Memory” page here on Greenwood’s website. Just click on this link to do so. https://www.greenwoodmemorial.com/obituaries/Margaret-Williams-30/For those who wish to say a final farewell to Margaret, there will be a viewing at Greenwood Mortuary in the Garden Chapel from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26, 2016. The family is honoring Margaret’s wish to have a small private homegoing service. We appreciate your support and understanding in this show of respect.Please feel free to make a donation in Margaret’s name to the United Negro College Fund in lieu of sending flowers. Click on the following link to donate. http://www.uncf.org/-The Williams and McQuater familyOBITUARY: Margaret Helen Jackson (McQuater) Williams was born on September 25, 1929 in Washington, D.C. to Othello Linwood and Mabel Bridgeforth Jackson of Richmond, Virginia. She was the 7th of their seven children, reared in a close-knit family of five boys and two girls in LeDroit Park near the prestigious Howard University campus. Margaret attended the historic Dunbar High School: America’s first Black public high school. Its list of graduates touts many ‘first black person to …’ including Senator Edward Brooke, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Dr. Charles Drew, Congressional Delegate Walter E. Fauntroy, and Lt. Cmdr. Wesley A Brown. Margaret graduated cum laude from Dunbar in 1946. Like others in her family, she had a beautiful voice and was a member of the glee club and her church choir. She enjoyed playing chess, tennis and attending Washington Senators baseball games at the old Griffith Stadium where several of her brothers worked concessions.After graduating from Dunbar, she entered DC Teachers College (now the University of the District of Columbia) to fulfill her dream of becoming a teacher. Shortly after entering college, she met and married Matthew McQuater, then a student at Howard University and later, a member of the Clovers, a successful recording group for Atlantic Records that was extremely popular in the early 1950’s. Although this union eventually ended, it produced three children: Lindsay Tyrone McQuater in 1949, Gregory Vaughn McQuater in 1950, and Patricia Ann McQuater in 1951. With three toddlers in tow and a full time job at the U.S. Government Accounting Office, Margaret eagerly returned to DC Teachers College part time, and persevered until she received her B.A. in elementary education in 1958.Margaret was a natural born teacher who taught her students as if they were her own children. Her devotion to them did not end when the bell rang and she often reached out, above and beyond, to ensure their home situations did not interfere with their ability to focus on learning. Margaret said, “When I see the problems some families have, I’m so grateful for my own good fortune that I want to help other people’s children even more.” And that she did – with grace, charm, and gentle professionalism. During her 30+ years in the DC Public School System, as a teacher and administrator, she touched many lives and her students loved her dearly. Every day of her life she lived the words of her father, a 32nd degree Mason, who always told his children to “…be the best you can be!” Margaret’s biggest joy and greatest reward came from being a fearlessly devoted single mother. As soon as they could walk and talk she began to give Lindsay, Gregory, and Patricia constant exposure to all the cultural treasures in the Nation’s Capital. They toured all the national monuments and were regulars at the changing exhibits of the Smithsonian Institutes and the DC Public Libraries. She encouraged them to excel in their academic studies and to participate in extra-curricular activities at school and in the community. She set the expectation for them to be well-informed, participating citizens of the world. Margaret had a huge heart and was always willing to share her limited resources with friends or family in need. Yet, on the salary of a public school teacher, she purchased a lovely home in Northwest Washington within walking distance of the Jr. High, High School and the church where her family learned and actively worshiped. Margaret was proud and delighted that after graduating from Theodore Roosevelt High School, her children earned undergraduate scholarships, their Bachelor’s degrees, and several advanced degrees among them. She was a shining example for every success they achieved.Margaret was not only mother to her three children and to all those she encountered as a teacher, she also impacted her children’s friends and inspired every young person she met. For sure, 1134 Buchanan Street was where all the kid’s friends and neighbors wanted to hang out. A well-read, strong, beautiful, classy, caring woman, Margaret was everyone’s biggest cheerleader. Her favorite gift to each aspiring teen or young adult was a book chosen especially for them. One friend said, “She even made me feel special in the way she said my name”. And to all of this, Margaret said, “I’ve had a marvelous experience as a mother!’Since her only sister, Louise Herbert, lived in Los Angeles and Patricia had settled in San Diego, Margaret made regular trips to California. While visiting family she eventually met the Honorable Leon L. Williams, a much loved and admired pillar of the San Diego community. He was the first African American elected to the San Diego City Council, and was at that time serving his last term as a member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. Leon totally swept Margaret off her feet and they married in May of 1993. She embraced her new family and immediately extended her heart to their blended family of 9 children, and Leon’s many brothers, sisters, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, etc. who reciprocated with love and acceptance.Her marriage to Leon began a life of dedication and commitment to the people of her new-found home in Southern California. That same quiet, loving manner endeared her to the people of San Diego and her kind and gentle spirit was always evident in her interactions with others. Margaret and Leon were always “in the know and on the go” in support of local and national causes and their shared vision of “inclusion” and “justice for all”. They were quite the couple and brought joy to all who knew them. He stood just a little bit taller when she was by his side and he referred to her as “Lady Margaret.” He was the love of her life and she told everyone that he was her “hero!” Total strangers would approach them and say “You two are the cutest couple I’ve ever seen! How long have you been married?” Margaret would always smile and respond, “I can’t tell you because my husband is only 39.” She was totally devoted to her hero to the very end. Lady Margaret peacefully passed away on January 16, 2016. She had a ready smile and a kind, encouraging word for everyone. Her loving spirit will endure forever with all who knew her.Margaret was preceded in death by her mother and father, her sister, Louise J. Herbert and her husband Adam, her brothers, Othello L. Jackson, Jr., Lewellyn Jackson, Benjamin Jackson and Arthur L. Jackson. Margaret leaves behind, her husband, Leon L. Williams, her brother, Reginald B. Jackson, II, her sisters and brothers-in-law, Jewel Lee, Leurell Barnes, Harold Williams, Mary Lou Attaway, Cecil Williams, Leona Williams, and Johnny Williams, her son, Lindsay McQuater and daughter-in-law Cynthia McQuater, her son Gregory McQuater and daughter-in-law Lorna Fitzgerald, her daughter, Patricia McQuater, her chosen sons and daughters, Karen and Henning Peterson, Susan Rogers, Sandra and Leon Williams, Jr., Penny & Sherman McNeil, Jeffery Anderson, Alisa Williams, her nieces and nephews, Deborah and Robert Cheeks, Michael and Cynthia Herbert, Tracey and Kenneth McGhee, Trina and Robert Ford, her granddaughter LaToya N. McQuater her grandson, Ryan F. McQuater, her chosen granddaughters Dyani Rogers, Darshana Rogers, Ramani Rogers, Jharae Anderson, Zoe McNeil, her great granddaughter, Morgan Sloan, her great grandson, Nicholas Sloan, and a village of many other chosen relatives and dear friends.
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