MMHMF Honoree

MRS. MARGARETTE D. FISHER
2006 Education Service Award

 The daughter of the late Hallie and Renetta Wheeler, Margarette Fisher was born in Florence, South Carolina.  She was the second oldest of five children in the Wheeler household, having two brothers and two sisters.  She was raised in Andrews, South Carolina and attended and graduated from Rosemary Elementary and High School.

Continuing her education, Margarette attended Allen University located in Columbia, SC., and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education.  She immediately pursued her teaching career with her first assignment in Edgefield, SC for three years and then she was assigned to a school in her hometown of Andrews, SC.

On June 10, 1949, Margarette married the late Nathaniel A. Fisher and to that union two daughters were added to their family; Natalie D. Fisher and Nanette E. Fisher.  In 1950, Margarette and Nathaniel relocated to Petersburg due to Nathaniel's initial assignment at the Federal Correctional Institute in Prince George County.  The Fishers later built a home in Ettrick, VA, where Mrs. Fisher still resides.

After the Fisher children entered school, Margarette resumed her teaching career in Chesterfield County at Union Grove Elementary.  Margarette stated that she thoroughly enjoyed all of her years spent teaching there and has fond memories of all the children and parents that she was fortunate enough to come in contact with.  When Union Grove Elementary closed, she was transferred to Ettrick Elementary.  After eight years at Ettrick Elementary, she retired from teachin gin 1976, culminating a 26 year career in teaching.

Margarette is thoroughly enjoying her retirement and enjoys spending time reading, caring for her flowers in her yard and spending time with friends.  Whenever she can, she enjoys seeing and spending time with her two daughers, Natalie and Nanette, who both live in Northern Virginia; three grandchildren --- Alkya, a doctor in North Carolina; Dalia, a recent graduate from UNC Chapel Hill and a new mother; and Sloan, a recent high school graduate entering Drexel University this fall --- and two great grandchildren, Mikalla (3) and Tyson (2 months).  She is a longtime, faithful member of Zion Baptist Church on Byrne Street in Petersburg.

Margarette still sees a lot of children she taught from time to time and she is very proud of them all.  Some come by to say hello and it makes her extremely happy to see that they still care.  When she sees the children now as adults and their parents, they still remember her and give her a big hug.  That means a great deal to her and she will always be grateful for their kind words and deeds.