Margaret Welch

Margaret Thelma Welch of White Plains, New York departed this life on August 14, 2013. She was born on April 4, 1930 in New York City to the late Benjamin C. Welch and Lottie Sims Welch.

Her outstanding academic performance earned her an admittance to the National Honor Society at Yonkers High School. Upon graduation she was awarded two scholarships from New York University and New York State. At New York University she earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. Furthering her education, she was awarded a master’s degree in biochemistry at Columbia University.

For 60 plus years she did research involving cholesterol in the brain and the effect of steroids in the brain. Many of her research projects were published in scientific journals. As a result of this work, Margaret was elected into the “Who’s Who of American Women” in 1977-78. She performed her research at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York University Medical Hospital and Roosevelt-St. Luke’s Hospital. She retired in November 2012.

Her life was her religious belief. She served as a church trustee and clerk for 17 years, a Sunday school teacher, a charter member and chief financial officer of the Messiah Baptist Credit Union. She was also the Messiah Baptist Scholarship Fund. In the outside community, she was a science judge for the NAACP ACT-SO program, secretary to the White Plains Chapter of Church Women United, a member of Sister to Sister International Westchester Chapter. She was also a charter member of the American Chemical Society and a member of the 1199 labor union.

In her spare time she loved to knit and crochet baby clothes for mothers at the Bedford Correctional Center. She traveled extensively in the United States, Europe, Asia, Mexico, the Caribbean.

Margaret had a loving, caring relationship with her sisters Frances, Lorraine and the late Ruth; her niece Margaret Ann and her husband Ken. Her grandnieces and nephews Lia, Aria, Maya, Juden, Oni, Mazi and Amias were close to her heart.

Margaret was quiet, reserved and dependable to all who know her. In her words:

“I have been bountifully blessed by the Lord throughout my life and I know
I will keeping on as long as He gives me strength.”