Margaret "Polly" Payne

Margaret "Polly" Payne became a vital part of the Walker household at 110 1/2 E. Leigh Street

NPS Photo/Maggie L. Walker NHS

Quick Facts

Significance:

Foster daughter of Maggie Lena Walker

Place of Birth:

North Carolina

Date of Birth:

c. 1890

Place of Death:

Chicago, IL

Date of Death:

March 2, 1967

Place of Burial:

Richmond Virginia

Cemetery Name:

Evergreen Cemetery

Margaret "Polly" Payne became a vital part of the Walker household in Richmond, helping to keep the home running by volunteering to take over cooking and cleaning duties for the family and working as Mrs. Walker's caretaker later in her life.

A North Carolina-native, Polly was distantly related to Armstead Walker, husband to Maggie Lena Walker. Polly likely joined the Walker family soon after she was born and remained with them all her life. She moved with the Walker family when they moved to 110 1/2 E. Leigh Street in 1905. Polly’s life in the home was briefly interrupted after she married Maurice Payne in 1911, but she soon returned and lived at the home with her husband. Maggie L. Walker hired Polly to do the Walker family’s cooking, cleaning, shopping, and laundry work, straddling the line between being a family member and employee. Unfortunately, her husband Maurice would pass away in 1925 but she continued living with the family moving to an upstairs room shortly after her husband passed away.

Several years later, as Mrs. Walker’s health declined, Polly’s role expanded to in-home caretaker. The care and attention provided to Maggie L. Walker by Polly inspired Walker’s oldest granddaughter, Maggie Laura, to become a doctor. Polly showed great love and care to Maggie L. Walker for many years and the family embraced Polly as one of their own.  Following Mrs. Walker’s death in 1934, Polly continued to live at 110 ½ E. Leigh St. with Hattie N.F. Walker and her daughter, Maggie Laura Walker, deepening their bond. She moved to Chicago with them to stay close to the family she had spent so long with. Polly passed away in Chicago on March 2nd, 1967 while living with Maggie Laura, and is interred at Richmond’s Evergreen Cemetery in the Walker family plot.