Community Leader Speaks to 6th-Graders

By Bob Castello
SJCS Communications Manager

A dedicated community leader and Deacon at Long Branch Baptist Church in Greenville, Mrs. Peggy Baxter spoke to the Sixth Grade Academy in February in conjunction with Black History Month.

Mrs. Baxter, the immediate past chair of Habitat for Humanity Greenville Board of Directors, attended Sterling High School, which served African American students in Greenville until 1970. Then she enrolled at Hampton Institute (now University), a Historically Black College and University in Hampton, Virginia.

Upon graduation, she returned to Greenville and tried to find employment as a social worker but was told, "We're just not hiring colored people."

Mrs. Baxter moved to Denver, Colorado, where she lived for 10 years, attended graduated school at the University of Denver and worked for the Department of Social Services.

After graduate school, she moved to San Francisco and got a job in Napa working with young boys in a residential psychiatric facility. She loved her work, but eventually a friend told Mrs. Baxter about an opening at Children's Hospital and Research Center at Oakland.
 

"The job was vacant because of the struggle that was going on in terms of race relations and the lack of affirmative action," Mrs. Baxter said. "That job allowed me an opportunity to use my skill and my passion to work with children and their families."

She remained at the hospital for 23 years before retiring and moving back to Greenville.

That was nearly 23 years ago, but Mrs. Baxter, who was accompanied to St. Joe's by Mrs. Sylvia Vandross (the mother of SJCS graduates Charles '15, La SamRae '15 and Adrianna '18), has continued to make an impact. As a deacon, Mrs. Baxter serves Long Branch Baptist Church as Ministry Leader for Faith, Fitness & Fellowship, which promotes the development of healthy lifestyles.

Mrs. Baxter is one who should know, and one of the students took note, asking if she had any "tips for living a long life."

"I'm just blessed to have lived to be almost 88 years old," she said. "All the things you hear about exercise, nutrition, eating the right foods, having friends and taking care of yourself -- they're really true. They matter. It's not just your parents lecturing you."

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