Margaret Foreman Williams

Margaret Foreman Williams was born in Montgomery County Maryland and was educated in the Montgomery County Public School System. She attended a two-room school with no modern conveniences from the first grade to the seventh grade. The school was located in Clarksburg, Maryland. She graduated from the elementary school and proceeded to the only junior­ senior high school for black students in Montgomery County. Margaret attended Lincoln High School from the 8th to the 12th grade. Her graduation class of 1951 was the last senior class from Lincoln High. In September 1951, Carver High School opened.

Her choice for further education was to attend Bowie State College (University); of course, it was not the campus that we see today but it prepared her well for the future. She attended Bowie from 1951-1955. She graduated in 1955 with a BS degree in Education. She returned to her home county and substituted for one semester, however choices to work were limited because the system was segregated, therefore only four schools were available. In 1956, she was hired at Taylor Elementary School. She worked with two teachers who were her teachers in elementary school.

Following graduation, Margaret took graduate courses from George Washington University and the University of Maryland. She also took many in-service courses in the county.

After integration, she worked at Laytonsville Elementary School, Hungerford, Hungerford Park, and Beall schools. Margaret joined the Montgomery County Chapter of Bowie alumni in 1957 at Sandy Spring Elementary School. She felt that Bowie had prepared her well to start on a new adventure.

During those 59 years, she worked on various committees and was available for all projects that they undertook. She served as President from 1971-1973; as Secretary for 29 years and also as chaplain.

It has been an interesting experience to see the growth, changes and challenges over the years. Education is an endless process so our goal as a chapter is to encourage and help today's students to make good choices and prepare for the future.

She was employed by Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) for 50 years. Upon retirement in 1988 and her substituting years until 2005, she had been volunteering in other areas and becoming involved.

Her church, Community of Faith United Methodist in Clarksburg, MD has kept her involved along with the Clarksburg Historical Society, Church Women United, American Association of University Women, Montgomery Avenue Women's Center and the Clarksburg Senior Citizens. Each one has its own goals and time is available.

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