Ms. Margaret Broom

Mrs. Margaret Davis Broom entered this life on August 9, 1925, in Freeport, Illinois, the oldest of seven children born to McKinley and Josephine Turner Davis. She attended public school in Freeport, and graduated from Freeport High School. As a young person, she made a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ, was baptized, and became a member of the family church, St. Paul Baptist Church in Freeport, where she also began serving as a pianist. Sometime during the World War II years, Margaret met Hersal Broom, a native of Plain Dealing, Louisiana serving in the Army, who happened to be visiting her family’s church in Freeport. A friendship soon developed into a romantic relationship, and they became engaged. Margaret and Hersal married May 13, 1946, in her parents’ home. Soon after, they settled in Rockford, Illinois and became members of Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church where Hersal sang in the choir and Margaret served as pianist. In about 1950 or 1951, Margaret and Hersal moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Once in Milwaukee, Margaret began her pursuit of higher education, earning a Bachelor of Music degree in piano from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. Desirous of being a public school music teacher, she applied for a job with Milwaukee Public Schools, but was told the school district was not hiring black music teachers. Remember, this was the 1950s. Undeterred, Margaret went back to school and pursued a second bachelor degree in another course of study. She graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree in English from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Armed with another degree, she applied once again for a teaching job with Milwaukee Public Schools. This time she was hired. She later earned a third degree: a Master of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Level A Administration Specialist Certification. Over the length of her educational career, Margaret taught at Lincoln High School, South Division High School, and the Jewish Vocational Service in Milwaukee. She not only worked as a classroom teacher, but as a diagnostic program teacher, diagnostic teacher, case manager, and program supervisor in the Division of Exceptional Education and Supportive Services. Margaret retired from Milwaukee Public Schools in 1987. After moving to Milwaukee, Margaret and Hersal also found a new church home: St. Mark A.M.E. Church, then pastored by Rev. John E. Bradford. As they did for their church in Rockford, Illinois, Hersal sang in the choir, and Margaret found a place of service in the music ministry. It was in the church that Margaret found the greatest use for her music degree. Margaret would eventually serve the music ministry of St. Mark Church for over 50 years. Over that span of time, she served as a pianist, organist, one of several choir directors, and, ultimately, the Coordinator of Music—appointed to that position by Rev. Lovell Johnson. As the Coordinator of Music for about 25 years, she effectively administered a large and active music ministry consisting of several choirs, maintaining a long-standing church tradition of musical excellence. She also organized the Celestial and Anvil Choirs and, under the pastorate of Rev. Clarence G. Robinson, oversaw the replacement of the church’s original pipe organ with a new Wicks pipe organ. Margaret’s skills as an educator and supervisor were put to further use in the church when Rev. Johnson also appointed her the Coordinator of St. Mark Church’s Quality of Life Center. In this role, she led St. Mark Church in serving the spiritual, physical, social, and intellectual needs of the surrounding community, a role to which she dedicated herself for about 25 years, until retiring in 2012. Margaret served a number of years as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Epsilon Kappa Omega chapter, for which she was a former Education Chair and Leadership Committee Chair. She served the A.M.E. Church Women’s Missionary Society as the former Fourth Episcopal District AIDS/HIV study Chairperson. She was also a member of the National Urban League and the NAACP. It would be no exaggeration to say that, through her years of service to church, school, and community, Margaret positively influenced thousands of lives. However, Margaret’s most fulfilling and lasting role was as a mother. After 18 childless years of marriage, the Lord mercifully surprised Margaret and Hersal with a gracious gift: a daughter, Catherine Anne—their only child. As a mother, Margaret was dutiful, protective, self-denying, and unfailingly proud. Her pride and devotion to Catherine equally extended to her son-in-law, Wyeth, and grandsons, Evan and Ethan. Her daughter and family meant the world to her. In July 2012, after 60 years living in Milwaukee, serving St. Mark Church and the greater Milwaukee community, Margaret relocated to Libertyville, Illinois to live closer to her daughter and son-in-law. While living in Lake County, Illinois, Margaret attended Christ Church Lake Forest with her family. In August 2014, when employment relocated her daughter’s family from Illinois to the District of Columbia, Margaret willingly relocated with them, and attended church with them as long as she was able. On Wednesday evening, March 1, 2017, at her assisted-living residence in Lanham, Maryland, Margaret peacefully departed this life with her daughter and son-in-law by her side. She was 91 years old. “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21b). Her husband, parents, two sisters—Melva and Sister Jo Mary Davis—and two brothers—Hosea and McKinley “Deacon” Davis, preceded Margaret in death. She is survived by her daughter, Catherine (Rev. Wyeth) Duncan, of Washington, DC; grandsons, Evan Duncan, of Riverside, CA, and Ethan Duncan, of Washington, DC; one sister, Erma Cole, of Milwaukee, WI; one brother, Joseph Davis, of Rockford, IL; her sister-in-law, Lil Davis, of Rockford, IL; a step-son, Roy (Deola) Broom, of Benton, LA; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Ms. Margaret Broom

August 9, 1925 - March 1, 2017