Margaret B. Steele

Margaret B. Steele was born Tuesday, April 15, 1924 to William Branom and Stella Sanders Branom in Henry County, Kentucky. She is one of eleven children and the last of her original family. Margaret was a graduate of Central High Night School in Louisville, Kentucky. She attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and later Bliss College in Columbus, Ohio. Mrs. Steele taught evening and night classes for the O’Bannon School held at Central High School. She taught Business Typing, Shorthand, and Beauty Culture. Margaret worked also as a secretary for the law offices of Attorneys Lunderman and Tucker. During the days of this employment, Margaret typed many letters demanding the release of sit-in students who were protesting as a part of the Civil Rights Movement. Mrs. Steele worked for the United States Government both in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and in Columbus at DCSC (now DSCC). She was a supervisor who was well respected. Margaret believed in supporting as well as respecting her staff. In Columbus, she studied real estate under the instruction of Mr. Stanley R. Craig of Craig Realty located on Cleveland Avenue. Margaret and her husband, Mr. Edward Steele, Sr., became licensed real estate salespersons for the Craig Realty Company. In her own right, Mrs. Steele became a poetess who wrote numerous poems about various subject matters. Her inspirations were her belief, trust and faith in God. She was honored, along with many others, in Reno, Nevada by the World of Poetry. This was a wonderful event presented at the MGM Grand Hotel. Her poems covered a vast array of topics including religion, faith, comedy, the workplace, special events such as birthdays, graduations, retirement, weddings and funerals, prayers for children, well wishes and a host of other subjects. They were found to be uplifting and inspirational to those who heard her words or were presented personally with her work. Mrs. Steele loved church and the worshiping of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. While active in her church, Faith Ministries Church, under the pastorate of Dr. C. Dexter Wise, III, she was one of six teachers who taught the class, “Women in The Word.” She became inactive due to a fifteen-year illness, but she never did move her membership. She had several nicknames, all of which derived from family. Margaret was known by her siblings and cousins as “Sister” or “Sistergirl;” her grandchildren referred to her as “Grandma” and her great grandchildren called her “Gigi” for the fact that she was their Great Grandmother. On Sunday, April 15, 2018, the family matriarch, Margaret B. Steele departed this earthly life at the age of 94. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husband, Edward Steele, Sr., son Edward Steele, Jr., eight brothers, Robert, Albert, Gilbert (Mabel), James “Donnie” (Bonnie), William, Lewis (Peggy, and Thelma), Allie, and Carl (Carr), two sisters Nannie and Catherine, and stepfather Harvey Henderson. Margaret leaves to mourn her departure her daughter, Reverend Jacqueline S. (Stanley R.) Craig; grandsons, Vincent E. Steele (his mother, Edie Jackson; and sister, Carmella Cobb) and Richard E. Craig; great grandchildren, Jajuan Vonzell Steele, Alaina Nicole Craig (her mother, Kiona Jones), and Mya Michelle Craig (her mother, Kelsie Beale); nephew Larry Branom; nieces, Cynthia (Stan) Mullens, Rev. Lisa (Rev. George) Wallace, Angela Wade Keys (Wesley), Pam Solomon, Charlotte Childs, Rev. Mary Jane Barnwell; great nephews, Matthew Mullens and family, and Jamie and family; great nieces, Rev. Toby Branom, Rozzie and Lori Branom; cousins, Barbara Harrison and Family, Aileen Brown and the Reese family, nieces and nephews of the Steele and Copeland families of Louisville, Kentucky; and a host of extended family and friends, including wonderful, close friends, Mitzi Ellis and family; Debbie Worsham; and former son-in-law, Melvin R. Wilder.