Margaret Ann Burley

Margaret Hicks Burley was born and raised in the Penn Hills community of Pittsburgh.  She is the second child of parents, Ida Mae Jones Hicks and Earvin Hicks, who had four children, 2 girls, Yvonne and Margaret, and Earvin (Sonny) and Theamon.  She attended First Baptist Church of Penn Hills, and was very active attending with her family every Sunday, singing in the choir, and serving as an usher.  Margaret loved art and had a passion for fashion. Attending Clarissa School of Design upon high school graduation, she was an accomplished seamstress, and designer, capable of creating women's suits, coats, dresses for clients throughout Pittsburgh.  Margaret earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Pittsburgh School of Education. She worked as an elementary school teacher for the Pittsburgh School Public Schools for 33 years. At Miller Elementary School, she served as the Instructional Teacher Leader (ITL) and founded and coordinated The Miller School-Mercy Hospital Mentoring & Career Awareness Program in collaboration with The Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. She won many awards during her teaching career.  In 1997, she was awarded the KDKA-TV 2 Thanks To Teachers Award-The Power of Partnerships. She was honored for enhancing the educational experiences of her students through an innovative teaching partnership, using the community as a resource. In 2001, she earned The Teacher Excellence Foundation Silver Award and the 2003 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Service Award in Education.  Many of her former students have become influential members of the local business community and nationally known in their fields.  Margaret established  a scholarship in her name to benefit students that graduated from Miller Elementary School bound for college.  She retired after 33 years to enjoy her grandchildren and loving husband, Tom.  

Margaret was a Platinum member of The Pittsburgh Chapter of The Links, The Northeasterners, with whom she served as a past president, and the Circle-lets.  She was a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.  An avid reader, she belonged to multiple book clubs, including The Aurora Reading Club of Pittsburgh. Aurora is one of the oldest African American Reading Clubs in the country. She also volunteered with the Reading is Fundamental Program (RIF) at the Faison School in Pittsburgh.  A faithful friend and mentor, she is loved, respected and admired by all who have had the opportunity to know her.  The epitome of style, elegance and grace, she leaves an indelible mark as a phenomenal woman.  

Her beloved husband, Thomas Burley spent the last 66 years (plus 3 years dating) loving her and making a beautiful life together that produced two daughters, Janis Burley and Lori Burley.  Tom and Margaret met as teens at Tam 'o Shanter art classes at Carnegie Museums while taking an art class.  They began dating and after Margaret graduated from high school, they married at First Baptist Church of Penn Hills in 1960.  She worked as a designer and seamstress and he studied engineering at Westinghouse Electric night school.  Supporting her husband, they moved across country to Washington State where he began to build his career as a nuclear engineer.  Margaret, Tom and their two daughters returned home to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1970 to start building a legacy as a power couple in their hometown. They hosted big family gatherings, loved attending formal events, enjoying their large Hicks/Burley families and were the center of their community of friends and neighbors throughout the years together.  As they often said, they have been "best friends for 70 years".  She will forever be in his heart 'til they meet again.  

Mrs. Burley was a favorite teacher to generations of students in the Hill District.  She has kept their drawings and memories of classroom presentations filed away for 30 years.  Her students learned poems to motivate and inspire them to greatness.  Her motto in class and in life was "Success comes to those who never stop Striving" 

Margaret was very social, loved to entertain, attend parties and events, and dancing, specifically line dancing was always a source of joy and excitement for her.  At the height of her dancing she met 3 times a week, going to different dance classes with her line dance crew.  She was known for leading the steps at the party or wedding reception. 

Her greatest joys were her grandchildren, Margaux Wilson (named after her), Liza Wilson, Maya Burley and Thomas Wilson.  They could do no wrong, Grandma was their biggest fans, talking to them providing words of wisdom, teaching them poetry as soon as they were able to speak, and she was proud of all of their accomplishments.  

Margaret is survived by her loving life partner and husband, Thomas Burley, daughters, Janis Burley and son-in-law, Erwin Campbell, and Lori Burley, grandchildren Margaux Wilson, Liza Wilson, Maya Burley, and Thomas Wilson, bonus grandchildren Karynne Bernard & Fred Bernard, Kaylen Campbell and great grandchild, Skyra Bernard.  Siblings, Rev. Dr. Yvonne Hicks Davis, Earvin Hicks and Theamon Hicks, Sister-in-Laws, Anita Burley, Dr. JoAnne Burley, Mary Burley, Nancy Hicks and Valerie Hicks, brother-in-law Robert Burley, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, Sorors, club members, students and wonderful friends.  

She was the queen of her castle and regal in every way...Margaret Hicks Burley is now amongst the stars and angels in heaven.  

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING TO THE MARGARET AND THOMAS BURLEY SCHOLARSHIP VIA NEED. THE SCHOLARSHIP IS FOR STUDENTS ENTERING A 4 YEAR COLEGE STUDYING EDUCATION AND/OR ENGINEERING     https://www.needld.org/take-action

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