ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — A community servant and trailblazer died on Saturday in St. Louis at the age of 84.
Esther Haywood was known for many things in her life. In a press release, John Gaskin III with the NAACP National Board of Directors called her a fierce civil rights and social justice advocate. But Esther's daughter, 64-year-old Dr. Angela Haywood-Gaskin—a retired principal and 34-year educator—called her mother consistent.
"No one is looking at her and seeing her as a distant person. To know Esther Jean Haywood the politician, the community servant, and the educator was to know Esther Jean Haywood, the person. She was full of love and kindness and full of laughter," she said.
As Angela prepares for the funeral, she calls her mother a community-involved person who was loved and respected.
"What she showed me is, 'I can love you and I can raise you and I can give you all of the things that a mother is supposed to give you,'" Angela said. "'But at the same time, I can take care of my community and I'm raising you up to do just that.'"
The politician
Esther supported voting rights, financial literacy, public education, and working families, according to the NAACP.
She was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2000 and served 4 terms. During her time in office, Esther sponsored bills such as making Feb. 4 Rosa Parks Day in Missouri and legislation criminalizing cross and church burnings.
She also worked to stand against "right to work" legislation.
Esther co-sponsored the Senior Tax Justice Act and served as Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Higher Education.
The educator
Haywood graduated from Lincoln University and Barrett’s Chapel High School in Tennessee, then completed graduate studies at Mississippi State University and St. Louis University.
She went on to become one of five African American teachers to integrate Shelby County, Tennessee's Public School District in the 1960s, according to the press release.
Her love for education continued when she came to Missouri in 1968, within the Normandy School District and East St. Louis Public School District. She served in education for over three decades.
"Cooks and custodians, they love Miss Haywood, they love and respect her because she loved and respected them," Angela said.
Esther treated people with the same respect, whether they were custodians or cooks, her daughter said.
The person
Esther was a mother of two daughters. She had six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was also married for over 55 years to Edward Haywood.
"Mama showed balance and she showed, she made sure that we knew that we were her main gig," Angela said. "She made that clear and it wasn't through her words, it was through her actions."
Her other gigs included becoming a charter member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and an active participant in St. Louis Links, Forest Park Forever, and Murchison Tabernacle CME Church.
Esther was even named the president Emerita of the St. Louis County NAACP and served in that role for 25 years.
Angela learned many things from her mother, but one of her greatest legacies is bringing out the best in people.
Angela's fondest memory of her mother is when she was only 4 years old and her mother taught her the song "Rainbow In The Sky." Esther encouraged Angela to keep singing and she never stopped.
"I loved singing for my mama. And that was the last thing I did for her, and she took her last breath while I was singing to her," Angela said.
A public viewing will be held on Sunday, Nov. 24 at Murchison Tabernacle C.M.E. Church from 4-7 p.m.