Honoring an educator

Rickards High School names science building for Lewis-Butler

By St. Clair Murraine
Outlook Staff Writer

There was a consensus among the speakers during a ceremony to name the science building at Rickards High School for Maggie Lewis-Butler. 

She has earned the honor. 

Lewis-Butler served 20 years on the Leon County School Board after more than three decades as a teacher.

The ceremony took place in the shadow of the tall gray building that has Lewis-Butler’s name on its east end in huge letters. 

“I’m sincerely grateful and humbled regarding this extreme honor of having the science building bare my name at James S. Rickards High School,” Lewis-Butler said. “To have this building named after me is truly an honor. I’m so excited.”

Lewis-Butler was celebrated with flowers and spoken words, including a touching cell phone video message from one of her grandchildren who couldn’t make the trip from Atlanta.

She delivered a poem that she titled “Leave it to Na-Na.”

The video was presented by Sha Gadson, Lewis-Butler’s oldest daughter. She used letters of the alphabet to describe her mother.

“I’m so glad that she was assigned by God to be my mother and a mother to the children in our family,” Gadson said.

Daryl Jones, vice chairperson of the school board, reminded the audience that up until her last term, Lewis Butler was the longest serving member on the board.

Jones, who recommended Lewis-Butler for the honor, called her a “delivery, peacemaker, ambassador on behalf of (her) people.”

He added: “Today, and for as long as these bricks will endure and your name sits on that building, we will be reminded of what quality and compassionate public service looks like.”

Rickards Principal Doug Cook called it a “great day” that the honor was being bestowed on Lewis-Butler.

Among the speakers was former senator Bill Montford, who also was superintendent of Leon County Schools when Lewis-Butler was on the School Board. 

“If you go back and look at the history of this school district and ask yourself who has had the most impact on the lives of children, Maggie Lewis’ name is at the top,” Montford said. “Maggie is a good person. I have seen her for 50 years do what was right but not was easy.”

Montford told stories that are little known about his years of working with Lewis-Butler. So did Joy Bowen, chairperson of the Leon County School Board.

Bowen spoke about a friendship with Lewis-Butler that goes back to when they were sophomores at FAMU. She credits Lewis-Butler, for helping her get through biology classes.

Lewis-Butler “literally threw me a lifeline as I was drowning in those biology classes,” Bowen said. “Maggie tutored me in biology.”

She went on to tout Lewis-Butler for being an unwavering member of the school board. She was “unrelenting in her drive to ensure that funding was fair and equal; benefitting not only Rickards High School but all our schools,” Bowen said.

School Board Superintendent Rocky Hanna credits Lewis-Butler for being one of the driving forces that led to a $50 million redevelopment that is nearing completion at Rickards. The project will tie his legacy to that of Lewis-Butler’s, Hanna said.

“It’s a proud moment for me and I hope it’s a proud moment for Mrs. Lewis Butler because from here (and) ever after her name will be a part of this school and this school community,” Hanna said. “As students walk these halls in the years and the decades to come, you will always be remembered for your advocacy for Rickards High School. This is the right thing to do.”