Marguerite Word St. Clair Memorial Fund
Marguerite St. Clair died in Jan., 2012, at the age of 91. The daughter of Dora Tolley and James Walker Word, she was raised on Oakwood Ave. in Beckley, and graduated from Beckley College, Marshall University and Florida Atlantic University with degrees in home economics, art and psychology. She married Samuel Dixon St. Clair and taught school in Raleigh County, WV, and Broward County, FL. The couple had two sons, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. After they retired, Sam and Marguerite divided their time between Alderson, WV, and Vero Beach, FL. Marguerite was passionate about her family, painting, her church and helping others. Her nephew, James W. “Jay” Word III, determined that this amazing woman should be memorialized with a permanent unrestricted endowment at BAF. Jay is a past president of the Foundation’s board, and his father Jim, Marguerite’s brother, conceived and established the organization.
