Celebration of Life for Dr. Margaret Virginia Nelson Rowley, Friday, December 12, 2003, 11:00 A.M., First Congregational Church United Church of Christ, 105 Courtland Street, Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia, The Reverend Dr. Dwight D. Andrews, Jr., Senior Minister

Ce{ebration ofLife for
1Jr. Margaret Yirginia :Nefson Rowfey
Friday, December 12, 2003 -11:00A.M.-
:first Congregationa{Cliurcli Vnited Cliurcli of Christ
105 Courtland Street, Northeast Atlanta, Georgia
The Reverend Dr. Dwight D. Andrews, Jr. Senior Minister

Margaret Yirginia Ne[son 'Row{ey
Dr. Margaret Virginia Nelson Rowley was born in Brooklyn, New York on August 27, 1917 to the late Ralph Nelson and Lottie Randolph Nelson. She spent her early years in Esmont, Virginia and Charlottesville, Virginia. Her family moved to Washington, D.C. where she graduated from Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from Hunter College in New York City, she received a Ph.D. in History from Columbia University in 1946. She was the first African-American woman to achieve this honor. Her dissertation, A Study of Judicial Review in Virginia, 17891928 was first published in 1947 as part of the Columbia Book Series and was re-issued in 1967. She was a founding member of the Toussant L'Overture Club at Columbia University, a club for the study of AfricanAmerican writers.
Dr. Rowley taught at several colleges during her career as an educator. She taught at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana until 1948. From 1949 to 1965 she was chair of the History Department of Morris Brown College. During that time she developed the first African-American Studies courses. From 1968 to 1972 she was Academic Dean at Morris Brown College. She was the first female Dean at Morris Brown College and the first African-American female Dean in the state of Georgia. In 1972, Dr. Rowley moved to Atlanta University, now Clark Atlanta University, as Professor of History and Chair of the History Department. She retired from Atlanta University in 1987 and became Professor Emeritus. Throughout her career she served on the editorial board of Phylon, an academic journal of the Atlanta University Center.
During the 1950s and 1960s, Dr. Rowley also worked in the Human Relations Institute at Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts. This Institute developed innovative methods for preparing groups and individuals for social change. These techniques were applied to instituting the changes that were needed for integration brought about by the Civil Rights Movement, and are still in use today. Dr. Rowley participated in many other civil rights related activities. In the 1970s, she assisted the Black Women's Oral History Project of the Schlesinger Library of Radcliffe College, the first national oral history collection of African-American women's history. During her career, she touched the lives of countless students, many of whom remained in contact with her.
Dr. Rowley was a member of First Congregational Church, Atlanta Georgia, Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, the Phi Alpha Theta National History Society,

Margaret Yirginia Nefson 1Wwfey
the American History Association, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, the Political Science Association, the Association of Social Science Teachers, Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She was published in the Virginia Law Review, the Journal of Negro History, Phylon and the Political Science Quarterly.
In 1949, Margaret Virginia Nelson married the late Mr. Judge Kernan Rowley. She is survived by a son , Dean Rowley and his wife, Lee Rowley; a daughter, Diane Rowley and her husband, Bill Jenkins; granddaughter, Danielle Margaret Rowley-Jenkins; four nephews, Robert, Ralph , Raymon, and Ronald Nelson; niece, Natalie Summerville and their families that include many grandnieces and grandnephews; special friends, Deborah Partridge Wolfe and Gussie Lofton-Broadway.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Nelson.
"When I Must Leave You"
When I must leave you for a little while Please do not grieve and shed wild tears And hug your sorrow to you through the years. But start out bravely with a gallant smile;
And for my sake and in my name Live on and do all things the same. Feed not your loneliness on empty days, But fill each waking hour in useful ways, Reach out your hand in comfort and cheer And I in turn will comfort you and hold you near; And never, never be afraid to die, For I am waiting for you in the sky!
-Helen Steiner Rice

Dr. Margaret Rowley "A Tribute To My Friend"
I have known you for twenty-six years, a treasure sent my way from God. Like an Angel, a Mother and Friend all wrapped up in one. You were there for me when I was down. You lifted me up with kind words of compassion, wisdom and love... A Special woman with dignity and education, but always had time for everyone no matter their situation. Now I have lost my counselor, my friend, but your warm smile and tender memories will live on in my heart to soften my griefand fear. For I know that you will be watching over me when I think ofyou and shed a tear. So rest in peace my friend, know that you have made a difference and left a legacy of truth and love...
Your Friend, With Love, Ms. Smith
With God By Your Side You Will Never Have To Be Alone"
Sometimes life sends us changes we've never contemplated, problems we'd just as soon do without, and inconveniences that we'd rather not have to deal with. It can feel as ifwe are wandering in a barren desert. It's during these "desert" experiences of our lives that God, in all His faithfulness, opens up His heart. He quenches our thirsty souls, revives our parched hearts, and leads us to a higher place where peace and joy and love will be ours forever. On all the long journeys your life leads you on, please remember ... you'll never walk alone.
-Linda E. Knight
I love you and God loves you and there is nothing you can do about it.
We love you, Mrs. Rowley Joanne and Family

Order ofService

PRELUDE .......................................................................... Steven Furches Organist
PROCESSIONAL .................................. The Reverend Dr. Dwight Andrews
WELCOME AND INVOCATION

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN ............ uFor All the Saints" .......... UCC #296

SCRIPTURE READINGS ........................... The Reverend George Thomas The Old Testament, Psalm 27:1-5
The New Testament, John 1:1-14

PASTORAL PRAYER ......................... The Reverend Dr. Norman M. Rates

SOLO ............................................................................ Ms. Zelda Kennedy uThe Lord's Prayer"
REFLECTIONS: Dr. Deborah Partridge Wolfe Mrs. Felicia M. Anderson Dr. Alexa B. Henderson

SOLO ............................................................................ Ms. Zelda Kennedy uHis Eye Is On the Sparrow"

EULOGY ................................................ The Reverend Dr. Marvin Morgan

SOLO ............................................................... Thomasina Neely Chandler

CLOSING HYMN ..................... "Blessed Assurance" ................. AAH #184 RECESSIONAL

BENEDICTION

Interment
Lincoln Memorial Cemetery 2275 Simpson Road, Northwest
Atlanta, Georgia

The family invites you to join them for food and fellowship in the First Congregational Church Fellowship Hall following the Interment.

Pa{{bearers
Henry Darby Vincent Fort Isaiah Foster Albert Jenkins, Jr. Ralph L. Nelson Rayman K. Nelson Robert R. Nelson Robert B. Smith
J-fonorary Pa{{bearers
Faculty of Atlanta University
:f{ower 'Bearers
Joanne Barnes Rosa Dickens Doris Faster Gloria Mims
J-fonorary :f{ower 'Bearers
The Social Club
5\cknowfedgment
We express profound appreciation for the kindness and sympathy extended to us during our bereavement. Your kind thoughts, prayers and deeds of love have sustained us and you have been a source of strength and peace. May God richly bless each of you.
Rowley and Jenkins Family

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3000 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Southwest Atlanta, Georgia 404-691-381 0

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