Olga Mapp Stansbury

Olga Mapp Stansbury was a four-foot, hundred-pound, giant who made the melody of life her goal. Born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, Olga was the daughter of Charles Fritzgerald and Arline Mapp, both Caribbean immigrants from the small island of Nevis. Her father played clarinet and saxophone, and her mother played the piano. Her mother's sister Josephine, who played piano and pipe organ, began giving Olga piano lessons at the age of four. By age twelve Olga mastered the complexities of the organ and also sang in the church choir. Olga attended Dwight Elementary School, Troup Junior High School, and graduated from Hillhouse High School in New Haven. She received a degree in music in 1954 from the Hart College of Music, now the University of Hartford. Following graduation from Hart College, she taught music in Wilmington, Delaware at a segregated school. During the Goliath-spirit in the darkest hour of desegregation, she carried not a sling and stone like David but musical melodies that pierced the heart. Olga moved to Maryland after marrying Leroy Stansbury, a mathematician at Aberdeen Proving Ground. She taught at Central Consolidated School, which was segregated. Her love for music and her students was undeniable. Dr. Percy V. Williams was the principal of the school (Greg's godfather) who later became assistant State Superintendent of public schools for Baltimore City. Olga taught at Central Consolidated from 1958 until it closed in 1965. The school's name later changed to Hickory Elementary. Then she taught at Bakersfield Elementary in Aberdeen, Maryland for 23 years as a music teacher first grade to third. The barriers were high at Bakersfield. One incident was when her classroom was taken from her by the principal for a new incoming teacher. Olga refused defeat. She voiced her truth directly to the Board of Education. Pridefully, with her petite fame, she pushed the piano from room to room so her students would not go without music. Her courage was unyielding; her song became a symphony of justice and grace in a time that both were needed. Decades later she was honored at the Cal Ripken Stadium for her fifty (50) year legacy of teaching music. Cal Ripken, an Orioles baseball shortstop, was one of her students. She continued her musical career for twenty-eight years at St. Johns Episcopal Church in Havre de Grace, Maryland. There, she played and directed the choir, retiring in 1993, but continuing as a substitute for the church. . Outside of music, Olga was a woman of many achievements. She was inducted into Delta Sigma Theta Incorporation in July 1980. She also inducted into the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Alpha Beta Chapter Professional Women's Group in Harford County. She received a Certificate of Recognition for twenty eight years and a Recognition of Distinguished Service from the Governor's Office for thirty-two years of service. She was also recently inducted as the 120th member of the Harford County Public School Educators Hall of Fame. Her public service included citations from the Maryland General Assembly and the Senate of Maryland for her outstanding dedication. She was an active member in the NAACP and a Charter Alpha Wife. Her hobbies were sharp and keen. She loved bowling until she was eighty-five, and played Po-ke-no. She was very social and loved a communal lifestyle. She attended many types of dance classes that included tap, line dancing and even belly dancing. Her best friend Mrs. Johnson, who did not like dancing, would always encourage Olga to go to events with her to dance with her husband. Olga poured her joyful melodies from her heart to all that were part of her journey. Now rest, dear Olga, on a peaceful key, behind a lasting memory. She is survived by her only child, Gregory Stansbury (Linda); her brother Robert O Mapp, and his children, nephew Michael D. Mapp and niece Charice Richmond, and her brother Frederick D. Mapp (Sandie). She was preceded in death by her brother Edward F. Mapp and his wife, Lucille Mapp, and is cherished by Edward's two children, niece Karen L. Mapp and nephew Kevin F. Mapp. Great nieces and nephews Paeden A. Mapp, Michael D. Mapp Jr., Brooklyn A. Richmond and Blair A. Richmond. Grandchildren and great grandchildren: William Stansbury, Walter Bryant (Anjye), Moriah Ray, Vance Harris, Cullen Bryant, Layla Martinez- Ray, and Selwyn Thomas. Host of relatives, friends and her dearest Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.

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Olga Mapp Stansbury

June 29, 1931 - November 3, 2025