Margaret C. “Maggie” Pipes, 85. died on May 24, 2012. This summary of her life is taken from a beautiful tribute to her, written by husband, the Rev. Ernie Pipes, and delivered at the celebration of her life held on June 30th, which would have been their 63rd wedding anniversary.
Maggie grew up in a small town in Texas near the Mexican border. She was bi-lingual, owned a horse, and was loved by parents who helped her develop a strong sense of self and confidence. She graduated from Trinity University with a major in Theater Arts. Her social concerns and liberal outlook took her to the Unitarian Church of San Antonio where was she active in local politics and justice issues; it was there that she met Ernie, whom she married on June 30, 1949. After Ernie’s graduate work at Harvard, he was called to his first pastorate in Albany, NY. Maggie immediately became involved in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, with an intense commitment to the civil rights movement.
Maggie and Ernie raised three children, moving to Santa Monica in 1956, where she continued her dedication to social action. In the 1960s, in response to the urban crisis in LA, she helped create the Mafundi Institute, a center in Watts which taught film making, drama, dance and writing. In 1973 Maggie began to work with Cesar Chavez, representing the UUA to the National Farm Workers Ministry and, with Howard Matson, helped establish the UU Ministry to Migrant Farm Workers. Her work on their behalf extended over three decades.
Maggie was also instrumental in the Sanctuary Movement of the 1980s, which rescued Central Americans fleeing death squads, torture, and political repression. She inspired the Santa Monica congregation to sponsor a family from Guatemala, raising the bond money to move them out of INS detention and guide them through the process to win legal status. Outraged by the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador, Maggie helped to create the Oscar Romero Spanish-speaking UU congregation at First Unitarian Church in LA, which has been active since 1982.
The riots following the Rodney King beating and trial in 1992 were in the vicinity of the First Unitarian Church. The Rev. Linnea Pearson turned to Maggie to form the UU Crisis Response Network, which became the Urban Ministry, serving the inner city through numerous community programs. Maggie served as chair from its inception in 1997.
In recognition for her many years of unheralded service in the cause of social action and liberal values, in 2002 Maggie was awarded the Unsung UU Award by the UU Association. As her health deteriorated Maggie still “worked the telephone” on issues and causes of concern to her and maintained a network of close connections with a large group of friends. What friends and family remember most about Maggie is the warmth and love which she brought to her relationships, and they were graced to have known this beautiful person.