Marie Woodruff Fowler passes at 78
By Chris King Of the St. Louis American
Tiffany Stanfield was one of countless youths who benefited from the tireless civic efforts of Marie Woodruff Fowler, who passed suddenly on Saturday, July 21, 2007, from an aneurysm. She was 78.
The West End Community Center, which Fowler once saved from closing, was Stanfield’s “home away from home” as a youth. She studied dance there, then toured the world as a professional dancer, finally returning to St. Louis and starting her own program, MaTiff Dance, in the center Fowler “kept afloat.” It was a struggle, and Fowler helped give her the strength to continue. One story explains it all.
“She told me about a girl who came upon a caterpillar struggling to get out of its cocoon, and the girl helped the caterpillar, but when it came out as a butterfly it died,” Stanfield remembered.
“Miss Fowler told me, ‘A butterfly must struggle in order to get out of the cocoon and have wings strong enough to fly. You must struggle to fly. But you will fly.’”
This parable of the butterfly captures both of the teachings her son Flint Fowler, executive director of Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club, said he will carry with him now that his mother is gone.
“She taught me the value of serving others and the importance of having beauty in your life,” Fowler said.
“She didn’t like to see others suffer. That’s why she was so heavily involved in the community.”
Her acts of community service were legion and legendary.
She was a member of CORE during the Jefferson Bank protests and integration of local lunch counters. Among many educational efforts, she served as chairman of the board and director for Kinder Cottage Pre-School for more than a decade.
She also served on the boards of the St. Louis Public Library, St. Louis Housing Authority, National Black Child Development Council, Urban Renewal Study Committee, Youth Service Commission and the March of Dimes.
Flint Fowler said it was not always easy being the son of a woman intent on being a mother to the community.
“She may have taken on some suffering others would have endured, but she didn’t seem to mind,” Fowler said.
“She could bear that burden, but it used to frustrate us as kids. That’s just how she was made up.”
She also assumed many burdens at her longtime home church, Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church, where she sang in Choir #3 and served on the Herbert Harper Scholarship Committee and the Mother’s Board.
“She stood as a paragon before the young women of the church to help in their spiritual enlightenment and growth,” said her pastor, the Rev. Julius Bonner.
“She and her sisters grew up in the church themselves.”
Marie was one of the “Five Woodruff Girls” who grew up at Pleasant Green under the leadership of Pastor George H. Pruitt. She was the third of five girls born to the union of Jesse and Pineter Woodruff, on June 8, 1929.
Rebe, as she was called by family, was educated in the St. Louis Public School system. She was a proud graduate of Vashon High School and attended Stowe Teacher’s College.
On March 9, 1951 she married Eugene L. Fowler, who preceded her in death. To this union were born Wanda Marie, Clete Eugene, Donna Christine, Flint Woodruff, Craig Cameron and Sean Marcus. Her oldest son Clete and her grandsons Famar and Adam preceded her in death.
In August 1959 the Fowler family moved to the 5800 block of Bartmer, when the neighborhood was in the early stages of integration. A neighbor, Eugene Siebert, invited her to join the West End Community Conference. She later served as its chairman and executive director for more than a decade.
“She was a tireless force for the city’s children and families,” said Mayor Francis G. Slay.
“She measured her successes practically: the number of new homeowners, the percentage of high school and college graduates, the quality of rec center programs, the volume of the joyful music made and the height of the new trees.”
Marie leaves to cherish her memory five children, Wanda (Greginald), Donna (Karl), Flint (June), Craig (Regina) and Sean (Judith); daughter-in-law Sheilda; 13 grandchildren, Marcus, Fatima, Keonna, Karla, Jessica, Evan, Erin, Jason, Stacey, Andrew, Sean Jr., Kenedee, Antwain, Jose and Ywan; eight great grandchildren; three sisters, Allene Nelson, Norma Leggette and Jessie Mae Franklin; and a host of cousins, nephews, nieces and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 26 at Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church, 1220 G.H. Pruitt Place at Page (one block west of Taylor).
For those who prefer to make a donation in lieu of flowers, the City of St. Louis named a small neighborhood park on Page and Union after Mrs. Fowler near the home where she grew up. The family has established a beautification fund to ensure there are always seasonal flowers and plantings in the park. Contributions may be sent to Flora Conservancy, Marie W. Fowler Park Fund, c/o St. Louis Parks Department, 5600 Clayton Avenue, 63110
