There was a broad consensus among the leaders of St. Louis’ African American community as they reflected on the life of Attorney Margaret Bush Wilson – who passed away Tuesday night at the age of 90.
Wilson, who was driving her own car and practicing law until she became ill recently, was repeatedly declared a pioneer who moved forward in making change with a sense of commitment and urgency matched only by her grace and eloquence.
Her career as a lawyer and activist for equal rights and justice spanned nearly 70 years and her legacy and impact will continue for decades and generations to come.
Wilson was a trailblazer in many ways.
She became the second woman to graduate from Lincoln University School of Law in 1943 and the second African-American woman to pass the bar in Missouri.
In 1955, Wilson became the first African-American woman to serve as an assistant attorney general for the state of Missouri. At that time, an African-American female attorney was a rarity.
She was the first African-American woman to be elected chair of the NAACP National Board of Directors in 1975 and served as the president of the Missouri branch of the NAACP nearly 50 years ago.
“Margaret Bush Wilson was the consummate NAACP leader, and her steadfast commitment to the Association was unparalleled,” said NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. “Her invaluable contributions will be sorely missed, and her legacy and passion for social justice will live on through the NAACP’s efforts.”
Charting her own course
Her parents were activists, too. Her mother Margaret Bernice Casey was a teacher and was on the executive board of the St. Louis branch of the NAACP and her father James Thomas Bush, was a real estate agent who supported the Civil Rights Movement financially. While many expected her to become an educator as many had become on her mother’s side of the family, Bush was not interested. “I went to college without really knowing what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew what I didn’t want to do,” Wilson told the NAACP’s Crisis Magazine in 2007. “I didn’t want to be a teacher. I didn’t want to be a nurse. I didn’t want to be a social worker, and I didn’t want to be a librarian. I realize now I was eliminating all these female careers.”
After graduating from Sumner High School in 1935, Bush enrolled at Talladega College where she earned a bachelor’s in economics in 1939. She enrolled in Missouri’s newly-created Lincoln University Law School shortly afterward. The school was created in 1939 to avoid the integration of the law school at the University of Missouri- Columbia.
Bush graduated from Lincoln University Law School in 1943.
After she finished law school, she became an attorney for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Electrification Administration her mother was surprised that her salary surpassed that of teachers with 10 years experience.
She married Robert Wilson in 1944.
As founding president of the Real Estate Brokers of St. Louis, Wilson was instrumental in Shelley v. Kramer, the 1948 Supreme Court ruling that prevents courts from enforcing race discrimination in real estate. Wilson often joked that she passed the bar before her husband and therefore she have been senior partner. “I never raised that question,” she told the Crisis.
` A great loss’
Julian Bond, chairman of the national board of directors for the NAACP, said, “This is a great loss to the country and the NAACP particularly. Ms. Wilson was the first black woman to be chair of the NAACP board of directors… She was always a gracious lady but had a will of steel and she is going to be much missed.”
“She was a gentle giant – the epitome of what a community activist should be,” said Claude Brown, president of the St. Louis City Branch of the NAACP. “She knew how to get things done – especially when she was getting them done for the people.”
Brown recited Wilson’s credentials from memory and her impact on the organization that he now leads from a national and local perspective.
“For years when you talked about the NAACP in this city, you were talking about her and her family,” Brown said, noting that Wilson’s parents, James Thomas Bush and Margaret Bernice Casey Bush, were also actively involved in the organization. “She came in at a time when there was turbulence and her work speaks for itself.”
In 1962, Wilson became president of Missouri’s state branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In 1975 she became the first woman chair of the national NAACP. She eventually served nine terms.
“She was a stalwart Civil Rights leader as the local branch president of the NAACP and chairman of the board of the NAACP nationally,” said James Buford, president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. “In both instances, she played a major role in Civil Rights legislation and advocacy. Her life is her legacy and she will truly be missed and impossible to replace.”
As the reigning president of Missouri’s NAACP office, Mary Ratliff currently holds the position that Wilson held nearly 50 years ago.
The efforts of Wilson on behalf of the NAACP still inspire Ratliff and the entire organization from a local, state and national level.
“Her work and contributions were immeasurable and I – we – are forever grateful,” Ratliff said. “I am new in this position and when I came in, I learned so much about her. I came to know her how she continued to lift her voice for the NAACP and for people of color.”
Her husband, Robert Wilson Sr. preceded her in death. She is survived by her son Robert Wilson Jr.
Remembering an old friend
“When we would be in court people would say ‘Hi Ms. Freeman’ to her and ‘Hi Mrs. Wilson’ to me,” Frankie Muse Freeman said laughing as she remembered the good old days when they were the only two black female attorneys that many had seen.
Freeman and Wilson were friends for more than 60 years and an immediate bond was established when Freeman arrived in St. Louis back in 1948.
By then, Wilson had already received national acclaim for her affiliation with the Shelley v. Kramer landmark housing discrimination case.
Over the years, Freeman would become a civil rights icon in her own right – but she and Wilson would remain close.
“We lost a beautiful person and a legal scholar,” Freeman said. “It takes many people to work together to make this world better and she was definitely a part of that.”
Dr. Frank Richards met Wilson in 1947 after beginning his internship at Homer G. Phillips Hospital. Both were graduates of Talladega College and Richards actually first learned about Wilson when she was on a cruise around the world in 1940.
“She was a wonderful person.,” Richards said.
Their family friendship blossomed once Richards returned to St. Louis from the United States Air Force in 1954.
“Her son is the same age as my daughter and through that connection our family became friends,” Richards said. “It was just a warm family relationship.”
“She was very considerate always planning things for you and would have you over for discussions at her dinner table – mainly politics and issues – racial and non-racial.”
A community reflects on the loss of a giant
“Ms. Wilson was a remarkable person – an eloquent, powerful woman of courage and intellect, who used her considerable talents where they were most needed. She was an indispensable role model for those interested in public service.”
– Donald M. Suggs, publisher of The St. Louis American.
“Margaret Bush Wilson was at my side during the Jefferson Bank protests and throughout all of the major civil rights battles that we waged together over the last 50 years. She was an irreplaceable woman. Her intellect, courage and inner strength inspired us to be brave and to keep pushing forward for justice and full equality under the law.”
– Former Congressman William Clay, Sr.
“We will sadly miss her- her thoughts with the NAACP and her feel in terms of how she would handle certain situations.”
– Ina Boone, president, NAACP St. Louis County chapter
“Our membership is greatly saddened by the loss of such a great pioneer and legend in both the black community and the legal community. We celebrate her life and legacy and look forward to carrying it on.”
– Ronda Williams, president, Mound City Bar Association
“She was a quiet type of leader, but an effective leader. We shall miss her- her leadership. We already miss her.”
– Norman Seay, founding member of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), former director of the Office of Equal Opportunity
“Margaret Bush Wilson was a pioneer, not only in the field of law, but also in education. She was highly respected in the community in all areas –by all professionals. She will be sorely missed by Harris-Stowe State University and the entire St. Louis Community.
– Henry Givens, Jr., Ph.D., president, Harris-Stowe State University:
“The St. Louis community and our entire nation have lost a giant, and I have lost a dear friend. She blazed a courageous legal trail marked by landmark decisions and major advances that opened up equal opportunity for all Americans. Through her leadership and determination, Margaret inspired countless people, including myself. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and many friends, and I know that her memory will continue to inspire us for years to come.”
Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay, (D) Missouri
“She was just an incredible person who had national and international impact and personally touched me during my time Monsanto.”
– Arnold Donald, former President of Monsanto
Services for Margaret Bush Wilson are as follows:
Viewing will take place on Tues., Aug. 18th 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church (2831 N. Kingshighway). The funeral will immediately follow the viewing at 11 a.m. A celebration of Margaret Bush Wilson’s life will take place at All Saints upon the conclusion of the services.
In lieu of flowers, contact Sm Cunningham Funeral Home,2405 Marcus Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63113. 314-533-3400.
