Mozella Galloway loved history and libraries.
She loved the two so much, she sought out jobs on college and university campuses, where she could freely explore both.
“She definitely saw the libraries, the conferences and the other educational opportunities offered by the colleges and universities as a benefit,” said her daughter, Latonya Peterson, of Decatur. “She lived in libraries.”
Galloway, who worked in the Emory University School of Medicine’s graduate medical education office, spent what free time she had working on her life’s passion, creating her own library. In 1997, with a friend and colleague, she co-founded the National Black Herstory Task Force. Her goal was to make sure the historical contributions of everyday black women were documented.
“She wanted to archive and create a forum where those women, who’d done so many things but don’t appear in the history books, could be recognized,” Peterson said. “That’s what she was working on.”
Mozella Smith Peterson Galloway died suddenly Nov. 19, after going into respiratory distress at work, from complications of high blood pressure, her daughter said. She was 61. A memorial service was held Sunday. Raleigh Rucker Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Born and reared in Chicago, she earned an associate’s degree from Daniel Hale Williams University, a bachelor’s from Loyola University and started work on a master’s degree from DePaul University. She moved to Atlanta in 1987 out of a love for the city and its cultural heritage, her daughter said. Once here, she got a job on the campus of Emory and began exploring the educational benefits of being on the university campus.
“When we met in 2002, she told me of Herstory and that it was a passion of hers,” said her supervisor, Marilane Bond. “She said she was committed to her work here with us, but she wanted to make sure I was aware of this passion she had.”
Bond said Galloway would work at Emory some weekends to make sure her calendar was clear so she could work on her passions. And her work with Herstory took her to departments and programs all over campus.
“I am still a bit overwhelmed at the number of people across campus who knew her,” Bond said. “She was known, not as much for her work in the graduate medical education office, but for her work with Herstory.”
At the time of her death, Galloway was in the process of planning the 16th annual National Black Herstory Conference, which is scheduled for late March. Peterson said she is sure her mother would want the planning to continue.
“Somehow, we’re going to carry it on,” she said. “It is something she truly loved.”
In addition to her daughter, Galloway is survived by her son, Major Peterson Jr. of Lilburn; brother, Ezra Joseph Smith Jr., and sisters, Lillian Smith, Laura Smith and Juanita Smith, all of the Chicago area; 12 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
About the Author
