A longtime advocate and activist for positive change was lost to Ypsilanti on Dec. 20 with the passing of Marguerite D. Eaglin. She was 84.
"She was a wonderful lady," said Ypsilanti City Councilwoman Lois Allen Richardson. "I’ve known her since my childhood."
Richardson said when she became active in the NAACP, Mrs. Eaglin was the president.
"She was a woman who did not bite her tongue when it came to injustice. I admired her."
Richardson also served with Mrs. Eaglin on the Scholarship Committee of the Palm Leaf Club. "She was a real encourager, very much for encouraging education. I feel I should have spent more time with her. Anyone could have sat at her feet and learned."
Mrs. Eaglin was born on June 8, 1920, in Waxahatchie, Texas, to Orville and Leona Davis, and raised in Austin, Texas, where she lived with her grandmother until age 14, when she moved with her family to Oklahoma.
She attended Guthrie College, where she met her future husband, Simon Eaglin. They were married June 9, 1940 in Bristow, Okla.
That same year, the couple hitchhiked to Ann Arbor, where they decided to stay, and lived there for three years before moving to Ypsilanti.
Mrs. Eaglin earned her bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1953. She was a member of the Delta Psi Omega chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the first Greek organization for black college women.
Also in 1953, Mrs. Eaglin began teaching at Harriet Street Elementary, now Perry CDC. In 1957 she was selected by the Ypsilanti School District to aid in the integration of the district at both the professional and student levels. She was also named chairperson of the newly established Human Relations Commission of Ypsilanti.
During the desegregation period, Mrs. Eaglin served as president of the Ypsilanti NAACP and was a pioneer in the integration process. She was elected second vice president of the Michigan NAACP in 1962
Mrs. Eaglin moved to Woodruff Elementary School, where she established the first special education program for the Ypsilanti district. The program was so successful it later became a model in special education for the state of Michigan.
She was appointed to a Blue Ribbon Panel on educational reform, which allowed her to give input to the delegates of the Michigan Constitutional Convention that affected the writing of the constitution adopted in 1963.
In 1967, Mrs. Eaglin took a leave of absence from the Ypsilanti School District to work as a counselor at Washtenaw Community College, where she spent 22 years. During that time, she initiated programs, such as peer counseling, aimed at student success, and assisted in the transfer process for students proceeding on to four-year institutions. She also served as faculty union president.
After Mrs. Eaglin's retirement from WCC in 1988, she remained active in political and educational initiatives. She was one of the founders of the Ypsilanti Voguettes, a civil and social group for women. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church for 60 years and a member of the Palm Leaf Club.
An enthusiastic bridge player, Mrs. Eaglin joined the Ypsilanti Senior Center to find other bridge players. She soon found herself on the board of directors. Although in declining health in recent years, she became a passionate advocate for the center when the city cut its recreation department.
She also recently served as chairwoman of the Ypsilanti Fire and Police Pension Board.
Mrs. Eaglin is survived by her husband of 64 years, Simon; a son, Fulton (Jan) Eaglin; a daughter, Valerie Eaglin; five grandchildren, Christopher, Jennifer, Jessica, Alison and Caitlin, and her sister/friend, Johnnie Mae Sparks of Austin, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Patrick.
"She was a wonderful lady," said Ypsilanti City Councilwoman Lois Allen Richardson. "I’ve known her since my childhood."
Richardson said when she became active in the NAACP, Mrs. Eaglin was the president.
"She was a woman who did not bite her tongue when it came to injustice. I admired her."
Richardson also served with Mrs. Eaglin on the Scholarship Committee of the Palm Leaf Club. "She was a real encourager, very much for encouraging education. I feel I should have spent more time with her. Anyone could have sat at her feet and learned."
Mrs. Eaglin was born on June 8, 1920, in Waxahatchie, Texas, to Orville and Leona Davis, and raised in Austin, Texas, where she lived with her grandmother until age 14, when she moved with her family to Oklahoma.
She attended Guthrie College, where she met her future husband, Simon Eaglin. They were married June 9, 1940 in Bristow, Okla.
That same year, the couple hitchhiked to Ann Arbor, where they decided to stay, and lived there for three years before moving to Ypsilanti.
Mrs. Eaglin earned her bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1953. She was a member of the Delta Psi Omega chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the first Greek organization for black college women.
Also in 1953, Mrs. Eaglin began teaching at Harriet Street Elementary, now Perry CDC. In 1957 she was selected by the Ypsilanti School District to aid in the integration of the district at both the professional and student levels. She was also named chairperson of the newly established Human Relations Commission of Ypsilanti.
During the desegregation period, Mrs. Eaglin served as president of the Ypsilanti NAACP and was a pioneer in the integration process. She was elected second vice president of the Michigan NAACP in 1962
Mrs. Eaglin moved to Woodruff Elementary School, where she established the first special education program for the Ypsilanti district. The program was so successful it later became a model in special education for the state of Michigan.
She was appointed to a Blue Ribbon Panel on educational reform, which allowed her to give input to the delegates of the Michigan Constitutional Convention that affected the writing of the constitution adopted in 1963.
In 1967, Mrs. Eaglin took a leave of absence from the Ypsilanti School District to work as a counselor at Washtenaw Community College, where she spent 22 years. During that time, she initiated programs, such as peer counseling, aimed at student success, and assisted in the transfer process for students proceeding on to four-year institutions. She also served as faculty union president.
After Mrs. Eaglin's retirement from WCC in 1988, she remained active in political and educational initiatives. She was one of the founders of the Ypsilanti Voguettes, a civil and social group for women. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church for 60 years and a member of the Palm Leaf Club.
An enthusiastic bridge player, Mrs. Eaglin joined the Ypsilanti Senior Center to find other bridge players. She soon found herself on the board of directors. Although in declining health in recent years, she became a passionate advocate for the center when the city cut its recreation department.
She also recently served as chairwoman of the Ypsilanti Fire and Police Pension Board.
Mrs. Eaglin is survived by her husband of 64 years, Simon; a son, Fulton (Jan) Eaglin; a daughter, Valerie Eaglin; five grandchildren, Christopher, Jennifer, Jessica, Alison and Caitlin, and her sister/friend, Johnnie Mae Sparks of Austin, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Patrick.
A longtime advocate and activist for positive change was lost to Ypsilanti on Dec. 20 with the passing of Marguerite D. Eaglin. She was 84.
"She was a wonderful lady," said Ypsilanti City Councilwoman Lois Allen Richardson. "I’ve known her since my childhood."
Richardson said when she became active in the NAACP, Mrs. Eaglin was the president.
"She was a woman who did not bite her tongue when it came to injustice. I admired her."
Richardson also served with Mrs. Eaglin on the Scholarship Committee of the Palm Leaf Club. "She was a real encourager, very much for encouraging education. I feel I should have spent more time with her. Anyone could have sat at her feet and learned."
Mrs. Eaglin was born on June 8, 1920, in Waxahatchie, Texas, to Orville and Leona Davis, and raised in Austin, Texas, where she lived with her grandmother until age 14, when she moved with her family to Oklahoma.
She attended Guthrie College, where she met her future husband, Simon Eaglin. They were married June 9, 1940 in Bristow, Okla.
That same year, the couple hitchhiked to Ann Arbor, where they decided to stay, and lived there for three years before moving to Ypsilanti.
Mrs. Eaglin earned her bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1953. She was a member of the Delta Psi Omega chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the first Greek organization for black college women.
Also in 1953, Mrs. Eaglin began teaching at Harriet Street Elementary, now Perry CDC. In 1957 she was selected by the Ypsilanti School District to aid in the integration of the district at both the professional and student levels. She was also named chairperson of the newly established Human Relations Commission of Ypsilanti.
During the desegregation period, Mrs. Eaglin served as president of the Ypsilanti NAACP and was a pioneer in the integration process. She was elected second vice president of the Michigan NAACP in 1962
Mrs. Eaglin moved to Woodruff Elementary School, where she established the first special education program for the Ypsilanti district. The program was so successful it later became a model in special education for the state of Michigan.
She was appointed to a Blue Ribbon Panel on educational reform, which allowed her to give input to the delegates of the Michigan Constitutional Convention that affected the writing of the constitution adopted in 1963.
In 1967, Mrs. Eaglin took a leave of absence from the Ypsilanti School District to work as a counselor at Washtenaw Community College, where she spent 22 years. During that time, she initiated programs, such as peer counseling, aimed at student success, and assisted in the transfer process for students proceeding on to four-year institutions. She also served as faculty union president.
After Mrs. Eaglin's retirement from WCC in 1988, she remained active in political and educational initiatives. She was one of the founders of the Ypsilanti Voguettes, a civil and social group for women. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church for 60 years and a member of the Palm Leaf Club.
An enthusiastic bridge player, Mrs. Eaglin joined the Ypsilanti Senior Center to find other bridge players. She soon found herself on the board of directors. Although in declining health in recent years, she became a passionate advocate for the center when the city cut its recreation department.
She also recently served as chairwoman of the Ypsilanti Fire and Police Pension Board.
Mrs. Eaglin is survived by her husband of 64 years, Simon; a son, Fulton (Jan) Eaglin; a daughter, Valerie Eaglin; five grandchildren, Christopher, Jennifer, Jessica, Alison and Caitlin, and her sister/friend, Johnnie Mae Sparks of Austin, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Patrick.
"She was a wonderful lady," said Ypsilanti City Councilwoman Lois Allen Richardson. "I’ve known her since my childhood."
Richardson said when she became active in the NAACP, Mrs. Eaglin was the president.
"She was a woman who did not bite her tongue when it came to injustice. I admired her."
Richardson also served with Mrs. Eaglin on the Scholarship Committee of the Palm Leaf Club. "She was a real encourager, very much for encouraging education. I feel I should have spent more time with her. Anyone could have sat at her feet and learned."
Mrs. Eaglin was born on June 8, 1920, in Waxahatchie, Texas, to Orville and Leona Davis, and raised in Austin, Texas, where she lived with her grandmother until age 14, when she moved with her family to Oklahoma.
She attended Guthrie College, where she met her future husband, Simon Eaglin. They were married June 9, 1940 in Bristow, Okla.
That same year, the couple hitchhiked to Ann Arbor, where they decided to stay, and lived there for three years before moving to Ypsilanti.
Mrs. Eaglin earned her bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1953. She was a member of the Delta Psi Omega chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the first Greek organization for black college women.
Also in 1953, Mrs. Eaglin began teaching at Harriet Street Elementary, now Perry CDC. In 1957 she was selected by the Ypsilanti School District to aid in the integration of the district at both the professional and student levels. She was also named chairperson of the newly established Human Relations Commission of Ypsilanti.
During the desegregation period, Mrs. Eaglin served as president of the Ypsilanti NAACP and was a pioneer in the integration process. She was elected second vice president of the Michigan NAACP in 1962
Mrs. Eaglin moved to Woodruff Elementary School, where she established the first special education program for the Ypsilanti district. The program was so successful it later became a model in special education for the state of Michigan.
She was appointed to a Blue Ribbon Panel on educational reform, which allowed her to give input to the delegates of the Michigan Constitutional Convention that affected the writing of the constitution adopted in 1963.
In 1967, Mrs. Eaglin took a leave of absence from the Ypsilanti School District to work as a counselor at Washtenaw Community College, where she spent 22 years. During that time, she initiated programs, such as peer counseling, aimed at student success, and assisted in the transfer process for students proceeding on to four-year institutions. She also served as faculty union president.
After Mrs. Eaglin's retirement from WCC in 1988, she remained active in political and educational initiatives. She was one of the founders of the Ypsilanti Voguettes, a civil and social group for women. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church for 60 years and a member of the Palm Leaf Club.
An enthusiastic bridge player, Mrs. Eaglin joined the Ypsilanti Senior Center to find other bridge players. She soon found herself on the board of directors. Although in declining health in recent years, she became a passionate advocate for the center when the city cut its recreation department.
She also recently served as chairwoman of the Ypsilanti Fire and Police Pension Board.
Mrs. Eaglin is survived by her husband of 64 years, Simon; a son, Fulton (Jan) Eaglin; a daughter, Valerie Eaglin; five grandchildren, Christopher, Jennifer, Jessica, Alison and Caitlin, and her sister/friend, Johnnie Mae Sparks of Austin, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Patrick.
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