Ms. Margie Strong Truesdale (Williams)

Ms. Margie took her heavenly peaceful walk on March 8th, 2024. Margie Dean Strong was born on March 15th, 1927 to the late Andrew Strong and Rosa Belle Bland Strong in Craven County, North Carolina. She was baptized at an early age and educated in Craven County schools. Margie went on to North Carolina College, now North Carolina Central University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1952. She returned to her alma mater often for fun and annual homecoming and was active with her alumni. She married Army Officer McClelland E. Williams of Washington DC in September of the same year. After tours of duty in Kentucky and Georgia, they settled in DC. Of this union, two children were born Michael and Michele Williams in 1956 and 1957. Margie began a long career of public service in DC as one of the first African-American Metropolitan Police Women appointed to the department in 1954-1963. She served at the Women’s Bureau at 5th and K Streets. Margie went on to work for the DC Public Assistance Agency as a Social Worker where she counseled many families all over the city. Now a single mom, she returned to Law Enforcement with The DC Department of Corrections as a Parole Officer at the corrections facility at 1010 North Capitol St NW. She went on to the DC Department of Health as the Chief Administrator for Trust Clinic, a treatment facility in DC. Within the Department of Health, she worked for the Commission on Aids and played a vital role as a health liaison in educating residents through her huge network of people throughout the city. Over the years, she received many Outstanding Service Awards from the DC government. She retired from the DC government in 1989. Margie pledged the graduate chapter in Montgomery County of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority of which she was very proud. Ms. Margie as she was fondly called, was a 40 year breast cancer survivor, just one of the many amazing battles of her life. She was fun, fearless and a person with boundless energy. She was in perpetual motion at work, with her family and with her friends. Her friends came from every walk of life and were all ages. Michael & Michele were her everything and she supported their dreams throughout their lives. She loved her family, extended family and people easily became her family. The family reunions in North Carolina were certainly some of her favorite times. She lovingly looked after her father the late Andrew Strong, as he lived to be 100 years old and her brother Leedrew Strong as he transitioned shortly thereafter. She seemed to collect people as she was sought after for her wise counsel on just plain living, friendship and her “look on the brighter side quips.” She was a vibrant neighbor in North Michigan Park and became the ANC Commissioner for 5A for a term and enjoyed representing her community. She brokered a deal with local merchants for water and secured a city grant for tools to begin a garden on a vacant lot and the Urban Garden of North Michigan Park began. As a certified Master Gardener, she allotted community gardens to neighbors and coached them on their crops! Many of the young kids had gardens and she taught them to nurture and care for vegetables! In 1999, she moved to her new home in Annapolis, Md, adding to her circle of neighbors and friends where she lived for 12 years and enjoyed life in a beach community, Arundel on the Bay. Of course, she had a pretty robust and bountiful garden in her yard! Fishing became part of her list of things to do. Her life was always a list of generous gestures to be sure. She returned to Washington in 2012, with her daughter Michele. She was preceded in death by her loving son, Michael Williams and by her siblings Estella Strong Bryan, Bernice Strong Manley, Leedrew Strong and Leother Strong. She is cherished and survived by her daughter Michele Williams of Wash DC, who lovingly cared for her over the last decade. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews Robert “Pete” Manley of New Jersey, Evelyn Manley Rogers of New York, John Lewis Jr (Johnny) Bryan of Vanceboro, NC, Pearl Bryan of Burlington, NC and Bonnie Bryan Watlington (Thurman) of Burlington NC, Angela Strong of Wash DC, Leother “Mike” Strong of La Plata Md and Kathleen Strong Hawkins (Thomas “TJ”) of Wash DC. Many great nieces and nephews and a host of cousins and friends. Her circle of love includes a special “godson” Jerry Jones of Washington DC, her devoted and dedicated caregiver of the last seven years, Velete Jacob and long-time friend Hazel Wright also of Washington, DC. The family of the late Parker & Betty Jones, Judith, Veronica (deceased) Parker Jr, Antoinette and Betty (deceased) and Barbara from Sherman Avenue were a major source of support and fun in the beginning of her Wash DC life. She treated herself to a convertible blue tempest Pontiac and Ms. Margie and Ma Betty, scarves tied and secured would venture all over DC! A special thanks to loving hands that helped my Mom in her declining years, Louis (deceased) and Sheila Coleman, Vernette Manley, Angela Edmonds, Kathleen and TJ Hawkins, Selena Wright, Peter Mayo, Anthony Edmonds, Ronald & Cindy Knight, Cierra Knight, Barbara Jones Jenkins, Darryl & Pam Fogen, Craig Crismon, Lisa Treadwell, Laurence Smith and Rev. Patricia Fears. If inclined, plants in lieu of flowers, please.

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Ms. Margie Strong Truesdale (Williams)

March 15, 1927 - March 8, 2024