Maggie L. Walker

Portrait Courtesy of Meredith Carrington and Barry O'Keefe

MAGGIE L. WALKER WAY
Broad Street from 3rd Street to Adams Street

Maggie Lena Walker was born free on July 15, 1864 at the estate of Elizabeth Van Lew in Richmond, Virginia to Eccles Cuthbert and Elizabeth Draper - who would later marry William Mitchell. After graduating from local public schools, she taught grade school until marrying Armstead Walker, Jr. in 1886 - who would later construct the Leigh Street Armory, which is now the site of the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. Before the turn of the century, she assumed leadership of the Independent Order of St. Luke, which was a fraternal society dedicated to improving the lives of Black people through economic independence. Under her leadership, she published The St. Luke Herald and became the first Black woman to charter a bank and serve as president - the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank. The Walkers purchased a home in Jackson Ward in 1904 - shortly before Armstead's death in 1915. She also founded the first troop for Black Girl Scouts beneath the Mason-Dixon Line in 1932, also known as Bird Troop Number 34, which met at Hartshorn Hall at Virginia Union University. She departed on December 15, 1934 and is buried at Evergreen Cemetery.