Margaret Bowling McDonald

A Mother, Activist, Organizer, Educator

Margaret Louise Bowling McDonald, 77, of Richland, departed this life at Richland Rehabilitation on Wed., October 19, 2005 at 7:45 a.m. Memorial services will be held at St. James CME Church on Saturday, October 22, at 11:00 a.m. St. James CME is located at 325 North Owen in Pasco.

Margaret was born on Jan. 31, 1928, in Columbia, South Carolina, the only child of the late Pierce Montgomery Bowling, Jr. and Georgia Smith Bowling. Her father was a businessman and realtor during the Depression. Margaret was a member of the Second Nazareth Baptist Church in Columbia. She later attended St. James CME and Bethel churches in the Tri-Cities. She received a BA in Biology from Fisk University, graduating with honors, and a Master’s in Biology from Indiana University.

In 1957 she moved to Fort Smith and married Dr. Harry P. McDonald, MD, and to this union four children were born: Dr. Janice McDonald, MD; Mrs. Anita Austin, MBA; Dr. Palmer McDonald, MD, Ph.D.; Mrs. Maria McNamar, BS, Master’s in Teaching. Margaret also has six grandchildren: James and Chris Austin, Eddie and Perry McNamar, and Nina and Arlyn Brown.

During the early years of her life, she taught at several Black colleges and universities including Allen AME College, South Carolina State University, and Morris Baptist College in South Carolina. She also taught at Westark Jr. College in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She was a dynamic speaker and a church pianist.

Throughout her life, Margaret volunteered and participated in many notable organizations. Among the organizations are the NAACP, the American Association of University Women, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and Parent Teacher Association at Howard Elementary School where she served as president.

Over the years, Margaret was a strong advocate of the Civil Rights movement and was very instrumental in integrating the public school system in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She was a very disciplined educator with a strong commitment to excellence. She was a devoted mother who embraced life despite her many disabilities which steadily progressed with age.

The family request that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, Attn: McDonald Memorial Scholarship Fund, Columbia Basin Alumnae Chapter, P. O. Box 2216, Richland, WA 99353. Please make checks payable to DST, Columbia Basin.