Maggie Lee Poole Bryant

FACE MASKS ARE REQUIRED!!!

Maggie Lee Bryant was born July 2nd 1915, the daughter and eldest child of Maggie Lee Poole Bryant (1888-1976) and Robert Kelly Bryant (1886-1953) in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Maggie closed her eyes for the final time after 108 years on February 25th.

Maggie or “Midge” was the only sister to 4 brothers, 2 of which died very young, Infant Boy Bryant (1916-1916) and Bena Frances Bryant (1923-1925). She grew up with her two brothers R. Kelly Bryant Jr (1917-2015) and Aaron Justina Bryant (1920-1978). When Maggie was 5 the family moved to New York so she could start school early. She returned to Rocky Mount in 2nd grade to continue her lifelong journey in education in North Carolina. Spending her summers in Durham with her aunts she developed a love for the city. Her mother was a music teacher and she enjoyed watching her teaching local children early in her childhood.

After graduation Maggie attended North Carolina College for Negroes (NCCU) on an academic scholarship. She originally started as a dormitory student and later moved to live with her aunt Fannie Poole McLean (1893-1981) to be a support for her after her husband past away suddenly. This was the beginning of her lifelong “caring and loving spirt,” as well as the beginning of her love of history and later genealogy research. Maggie studied history and library science and graduated with a BA in 1938. While working she continued working toward her BS in Library Science in 1943, and her MS in Library Science in 1957.

After graduation she began her career at G. C. Hawley High School in Creedmoor, NC where she worked for five years. In 1944, she began a new position as librarian and teacher at George Washington Carver High School in Kannapolis, NC where she remained as a loyal and valued employee until her retirement in the spring of 1982. Maggie worked in education for 43 years and received many awards and recognition for her dedication to education and assistance with helping numerous young men and women to enjoy learning and go on to productive careers.

After retiring Maggie journeyed back to Durham and took up residence a few blocks away from her old dormitory and became the fulltime care giver for her aunt Gazelle Poole Lipscomb (1896-1998) who she lovingly cared for until she died at 101.

Maggie then focused on her spiritual life and was baptized as a Jehovah Witness and continued to educate her neighbors and friends about the Bible and her love of God, following her mother’s early teachings. She continued to support and nurture many friends, family, and students who kept in contact until she closed her eyes for her final rest.

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