1933
Margaret
2012
Margaret Pleasants
January 3, 1933 — April 26, 2012
Margaret "Bunny" Pleasants was born in Jacksonville, Florida on January 3, 1933. She was the oldest of two daughters of the late Henry Lee Bracy and Maudean Thomas Bracy. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age, while attending the Bethel Baptist Institutional Church,where her late great great grandfather the late Richard Frasier was a founding member. She loved being involved in church activities and sang in the church choir. She also began taking piano lessons at an early age and became very accomplished at mastering classical compositions as well as church hymns.
She began her education at Oakland Elementary, Boylan Haven Elementary, and later attended Matthew W. Gilbert, Jr. High School. Bunny was always active in school activities. While attending Matthew W. Gilbert, she became a majorette and participated in parades with the school band. She later attended the original Stanton High School where she was voted "Most Popular" during her senior year.
Upon completing her studies at Stanton High in 1951, Bunny continued her education attending college at Florida A&M University (FAMU). She majored in Sociology with a minor in History. She enjoyed the talents of the famed FAMU Marching 100 Band under the direction of William P. Foster. It was through the FAMU Marching Band that she would meet and fall in love with the late, Edwin A. "Tex" Pleasants, who was attending the university on a music scholarship. The two were married on December 18, 1955. The marriage produced two lovely daughters, Petre Maudeane and Angela Elaine.
Bunny always knew she would become a teacher and it was her delight to inspire her students. Of her teaching positions, she taught at Bryant Academy and later at Jack Yates, in Houston, Texas in 1963, while her family was in the process of relocating to the west coast.
In July of 1964, her family would relocate to Los Angeles, California. While in Los Angeles, she became involved in a social club called the Regalettes, founded by the late Gertrude Gibson. This club was very involved in community events and fundraisers. She was also a member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the FAMU Alumni. Bunny joined additional social clubs in 1970. She became involved in a new social organization call, "The Coasters". The group was founded by famed Vaudeville jazz harpist, Olivette Miller. In 1972-73, she became a member of another social/community organization called, "The Renegades". She was a charter member of the club serving at least two terms as Chairperson, and would remain with the organization for over 25 years. During the 1980's, Bunny was involved in an organization founded by one of her dearest friends and fellow FAMU alum, Dorothy "Dot" Thompson called, "Special People Into Community Endeavors" (SPICE).
Bunny started her L.A. teaching career with substitute positions with the Los Angeles Unified School District. In 1967, she took a long-term assignment at Jordan High School in Los Angeles. After her assignment was complete, she immediately landed a permanent position at Roosevelt Junior High School in Compton, California. While at Roosevelt, she taught Special Education. She remained at Roosevelt until 1970 academic year, and was then transferred to Whaley Middle School where she would remain until her retirement.
While at Whaley Middle School, she took great joy with her students in planning school activities, she was soon appointed as a Resource Instructor. She remained a Resource Instructor for approximately two years. During this time Bunny formed the Human Relations Club (HRC), which was born out of the multi-cultural club she had also formed. The club would have cultural events for the entire student body. She was also the advisor of the graduation ceremonies.
Bunny loved sports and staying active. She was an avid bowler and yoga enthusiast. In 1984 while singing with the Holman United Methodist Choir, she was asked and participated in the opening ceremonies of the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games. Because of her love for singing in the church choir, she was also active with another choral group called, the Episcopal Chorale. The chorale would give concerts around the city, and engaged patrons with old Negro Sprituals and gospel music. Due to the chorale's success, an album was produced that Bunny took great joy in participating on.
Bunny obtained a Master's degree in Education, from the University of LaVerne prior to her retirement in 1995. It was also in this same year that she would become a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority-Theta Alpha Omega chapter. In addition, she was appointed to the Top Ladies of Distinction within the same year.
Traveling was always Bunny's favorite pastime. Her greatest adventure was to Cairo, Egypt. She was also a "fasionista", who loved wearing designer clothes, interior decorating and entertaining in her home.
Bunny eventually relocated to Dallas, TX with her eldest daughter. While living in Dallas, Bunny joined the "Chorale" choir at St. Luke "Community" United Methodist Church, where she sang Black spirtuals. She was also an active senior, at Concord Baptist Church in Dallas, TX.
Bunny is survived by her daughters, Petre Pleasants-White (son-in-law Dawrence L. White, II), Angela E. Pleasants; granddaughters, Isa Olivia and Lauren Irene White; sister, Trixie Bracy Andrews; brother-in-law, John W. Andrews and a host of other relatives and friends. She also leaves her ever dedicated and loving caregivers, Ms. Bertha Small, Juanita Salas, and Rena Daniels.
She began her education at Oakland Elementary, Boylan Haven Elementary, and later attended Matthew W. Gilbert, Jr. High School. Bunny was always active in school activities. While attending Matthew W. Gilbert, she became a majorette and participated in parades with the school band. She later attended the original Stanton High School where she was voted "Most Popular" during her senior year.
Upon completing her studies at Stanton High in 1951, Bunny continued her education attending college at Florida A&M University (FAMU). She majored in Sociology with a minor in History. She enjoyed the talents of the famed FAMU Marching 100 Band under the direction of William P. Foster. It was through the FAMU Marching Band that she would meet and fall in love with the late, Edwin A. "Tex" Pleasants, who was attending the university on a music scholarship. The two were married on December 18, 1955. The marriage produced two lovely daughters, Petre Maudeane and Angela Elaine.
Bunny always knew she would become a teacher and it was her delight to inspire her students. Of her teaching positions, she taught at Bryant Academy and later at Jack Yates, in Houston, Texas in 1963, while her family was in the process of relocating to the west coast.
In July of 1964, her family would relocate to Los Angeles, California. While in Los Angeles, she became involved in a social club called the Regalettes, founded by the late Gertrude Gibson. This club was very involved in community events and fundraisers. She was also a member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the FAMU Alumni. Bunny joined additional social clubs in 1970. She became involved in a new social organization call, "The Coasters". The group was founded by famed Vaudeville jazz harpist, Olivette Miller. In 1972-73, she became a member of another social/community organization called, "The Renegades". She was a charter member of the club serving at least two terms as Chairperson, and would remain with the organization for over 25 years. During the 1980's, Bunny was involved in an organization founded by one of her dearest friends and fellow FAMU alum, Dorothy "Dot" Thompson called, "Special People Into Community Endeavors" (SPICE).
Bunny started her L.A. teaching career with substitute positions with the Los Angeles Unified School District. In 1967, she took a long-term assignment at Jordan High School in Los Angeles. After her assignment was complete, she immediately landed a permanent position at Roosevelt Junior High School in Compton, California. While at Roosevelt, she taught Special Education. She remained at Roosevelt until 1970 academic year, and was then transferred to Whaley Middle School where she would remain until her retirement.
While at Whaley Middle School, she took great joy with her students in planning school activities, she was soon appointed as a Resource Instructor. She remained a Resource Instructor for approximately two years. During this time Bunny formed the Human Relations Club (HRC), which was born out of the multi-cultural club she had also formed. The club would have cultural events for the entire student body. She was also the advisor of the graduation ceremonies.
Bunny loved sports and staying active. She was an avid bowler and yoga enthusiast. In 1984 while singing with the Holman United Methodist Choir, she was asked and participated in the opening ceremonies of the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games. Because of her love for singing in the church choir, she was also active with another choral group called, the Episcopal Chorale. The chorale would give concerts around the city, and engaged patrons with old Negro Sprituals and gospel music. Due to the chorale's success, an album was produced that Bunny took great joy in participating on.
Bunny obtained a Master's degree in Education, from the University of LaVerne prior to her retirement in 1995. It was also in this same year that she would become a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority-Theta Alpha Omega chapter. In addition, she was appointed to the Top Ladies of Distinction within the same year.
Traveling was always Bunny's favorite pastime. Her greatest adventure was to Cairo, Egypt. She was also a "fasionista", who loved wearing designer clothes, interior decorating and entertaining in her home.
Bunny eventually relocated to Dallas, TX with her eldest daughter. While living in Dallas, Bunny joined the "Chorale" choir at St. Luke "Community" United Methodist Church, where she sang Black spirtuals. She was also an active senior, at Concord Baptist Church in Dallas, TX.
Bunny is survived by her daughters, Petre Pleasants-White (son-in-law Dawrence L. White, II), Angela E. Pleasants; granddaughters, Isa Olivia and Lauren Irene White; sister, Trixie Bracy Andrews; brother-in-law, John W. Andrews and a host of other relatives and friends. She also leaves her ever dedicated and loving caregivers, Ms. Bertha Small, Juanita Salas, and Rena Daniels.
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