Day one of our 2022 Women’s History Series kicks off by paying homage to the first black female elected to a county-wide office, Macie B. McQueen.
Macie took her elected seat on the Richmond County Board of Education, which she occupied from 1980-1986.
A voracious lifetime advocate for children, justice and racial equality, McQueen was born on Aug, 9, 1948 in Washington, D.C. and was married to local history-making medical legend of Richmond County, Dr. Fred McQueen (see his feature on our Black History 2021 series: https://visitrichmondcounty.com/f/dr-fred-mcqueen). Although McQueen made an enormous impact within public education in Richmond County, her efforts were not limited to the school system; she also served as the chairperson of the Richmond County Human Relations Council (established in 1999) and as an advisor and chairperson on the Richmond County Branch of the NAACP Youth Council.
McQueen is famously accredited for countless momentous strides of the council, such as her leadership in 1985 in local NAACP protests that led to the recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a holiday by the Richmond County School District.
She was raised in Fairmount Heights, Maryland, and graduated from Fairmount Heights High School in 1966. In June 1971, she graduated from Howard University in Washington, D.C. with a bachelor of arts degree in sociology. While attending Howard, she met the love of her life and future husband, Dr. Fred McQueen. The two were married in 1969 and shared one son, Justin.
Prior to moving to Richmond County in 1976 and helping her husband establish McQueen Medical Center, where she worked until her retirement, McQueen worked for the Coast Guard while her husband completed medical school.
Additionally, Macie was a licensed day care provider, a golden life member of Delta Sigma Theta Inc. Sorority, and a member of the Essence Women Travel Club.
In 2015, the Richmond County Human Relations Council honored the impact of McQueen’s positive influence on young people and contributions to Richmond County with a resolution by Richmond County commissioners proclaiming Oct. 5, 2007 as Macie McQueen Day and by establishing the inaugural Macie McQueen Champion of Diversity Award to be given to someone who exemplifies her passion for unity through diversity.
Join us today, on the first day of Women’s History Month, in celebrating the extraordinary life of Macie B. McQueen!
Meghann Lambeth is executive director of the Richmond County Tourism Development Authority. Republished from visitrichmondcounty.com. Throughout March, Visit Richmond County will feature a local leading lady in honor of Women’s History Month.
