Magdalene Margaret McLeod

Mrs. Magdalene Margaret McLeod, 89 of Winston-Salem, passed away peacefully on Monday November 2, 2009 at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home in Winston-Salem. She was born February 19, 1920 in Cincinnati, Ohio to John Joseph and Christine Murphy, who preceded her in death as did her brother John Murphy and his wife Helen. Magdalene was a sweet, kind, caring person. She was a devoted wife, a loving mother, doting grandmother and a proud great-grandmother. She loved children and was especially fond of babies. She was deeply attached to her family and made each member feel special, valued and loved by her. She saw her friends and acquaintances as unique individuals to be appreciated and respected. Her empathy for others made her a sensitive and successful teacher of children and adults. She began her teaching career as an elementary teacher in the N.Y.C. school system. She became a school librarian, then a remedial reading specialist, and lastly a Reading Coordinator for the District Office 9 in the Bronx. She trained and supervised both teachers of reading and their paraprofessional assistants. She worked on creating the reading curriculum used in the schools. She received her B.S. and M.A. in early childhood education and Psychology from Columbia University, Teachers College. From the same university she received an Ed.M conferred in 1978. She continued to take 60 graduate and post-graduate credits while she worked towards a doctoral degree. While she took courses, she also worked full time and provided a happy home for her family which included young children. Her own love of learning led her to acquire a large personal library of books which reflected her wide range of interests. Her first interest was in all fields of science. She also was interested in all the arts, humanities, history, poetry, to name just a few. She was an avid reader and to the very end of her life she would ask to see the latest books she had ordered. She was a life long student herself. She loved going to art and science museums, attending concerts, plays, dance and opera performances. Her appreciation of classical music led her to fall in love with a talented and accomplished pianist, Dwight McLeod. They were childhood sweethearts. A week after his 18th birthday they married and stayed devoted to each other for over 67 years. She would ask him to play the piano for her which he did often happily. Magdalene had a joy and zest for living. She saw beauty in her everyday surroundings and experiences. She was a strong and capable woman and everything she did, she did well and with enthusiasm. She had strong convictions she intensely believed in. She tried to do what she believed was the right thing a person of good moral character would do. She was warm hearted and touched the lives of many people. She will be dearly missed by all who came to know her. She is survived by her loving husband, three children, five grandchildren, six great- grandchildren, two nephews, two great nephews and one great-grand-niece. She will be inurned with a memorial service at Salisbury National Cemetery to be determined at a later date.

Cemetery:
Salisbury National Cemetery

Service:
Service at 12:00am on January 1, 1970 at Services to be held at a later date