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Galveston Educator
Maggie L. Singleton Williams Recipient of 18th Annual "Steel Oleander" Award

Galveston Island, Texas, March 31, 2011 – Galveston native, Maggie L. Singleton Williams, has been named as the recipient of the 2011 Galveston Historical Foundation's (GHF) “Steel Oleander” award. The award is given each year to salute an outstanding Galveston woman whose community service reflects the ideals and independent spirit of Ashton Villa's Miss Bettie Brown, this year's luncheon will be held on Friday, April 29 at 11:30 a.m. at Garten Verein Pavilion, 2704 Avenue O.

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Maggie L. Singleton Williams is one of Galveston's leading educators. Retired from the Galveston Independent School District after 29 years, Ms. Williams remains active in the community and within GHF. Her volunteer service and membership in GHF extends more than ten years.

In earlier years with GHF, Williams helped to compile information for the book Black Galvestonians, as well as being in the initial planning of A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King: Letter Writing Contest. As a member and inaugural chairman of GHF’s African American Heritage Committee, she developed the guidebook Galveston’s African American Historic Places and Pioneers. Ms. Williams is a past member of the Foundation’s Steering Committee and has served on the committee for the Dedication of Rosewood Cemetery. In 1999 and 2004 she received GHF’s Presidential Volunteer Service Awards and, along with her husband, the “Spirit of GHF” award in 2010.

The “Steel Oleander” award, a cast oleander blossom sculpted by the late Galveston sculptor David Moore, will be given at a luncheon on Friday, April 29. The event, sponsored by GHF, will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Garten Verein Pavilion, 2704 Avenue O. Luncheon tickets cost $50 each. Reserved tables for 10 are available for $750. There will also be a reception honoring Mrs. Williams at Menard Hall, 3302 Avenue O, on Thursday, April 28, at 6 p.m., the evening before the luncheon. Tickets for the reception alone are $35 each. Package tickets that include both the reception and the luncheon are $75 per individual or $1,000 for a table for 10 to both events. Frost Bank is the major sponsor of the event, with additional contributions by Stewart Title. Proceeds from the event benefit Ashton Villa.To make reservations; call 409-765-3409.

Mrs. Williams resides in Galveston, with her husband, Ennis. They have four children and six grandchildren. They are members of the Avenue L Baptist Church where Williams serves as Director of the Youth Ministry, President of the Deaconess and Ministers Wives Ministry and is teen class Sunday school teacher for the Ministry of Christian Education.

For more information on Galveston Historical Foundation's “Steel Oleander” award, please contact Jami Durham at 409-765-3409 or info@galvestonhistory.org.