Remembering Martha McLean

Martha L. McLean, 57, of Asheville, N.C. returned to Source on Tuesday, May 3, 2011, after a 19-month journey with breast cancer.

Martha was an activist, librarian, singer-songwriter, daughter, friend, and partner. She recently published her first book of creative non-fiction, Looking for Sheville. The book is based on her life in the Asheville lesbian-feminist community in the mid 1970’s. This work was her last creative endeavor and one of her proudest accomplishments.

Martha received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Behavioral Sciences from Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, N.C., and her Master of Library Science from UNC Greensboro. Her career spanned 35 years, beginning at the After School Program at Asheville YWCA and concluding at Ellison Library, Warren Wilson College, where she was a Technical Services Assistant. The library, books, and learning were among her passions. But her greatest satisfaction came from helping others search for knowledge. Through the years, she also held positions at Thom’s Rehabilitation Hospital, Mountain Area Health Education Center, East Tennessee State University, and Asheville-Buncombe Technical College.

Martha was dedicated to women’s rights and was a key organizer of the Asheville-Buncombe Women’s Center in the 1980s. She published the Women’s Center newsletter for several years. She also hosted listening parties to help women connect to community through meaningful music. In 1979, Martha helped organize the first Women Take Back the Night March in Asheville, which was co-sponsored by Women Against Violence Against Women, The Rape Crisis Center, and the A-B Women’s Center. Martha was a founding member of LETSA, a social organization for lesbians in Upper East Tennessee.

Martha enjoyed singing, playing guitar and writing. She also loved dogs, hiking, nature, and traveling. She lived in Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, Greensboro, and Johnson City. She always returned home to Asheville, however, and it was Asheville where she chose to live her final days.

As her life drew to a close, Martha was at peace knowing she had lived well, loved deeply, and learned much. She leaves a beautiful legacy of creative work and love with her music CD, Walkin’; her book, Looking for Sheville; and a multitude of loving, caring friends.

The outpouring of love and friendship in her last days was testimony to the kindness she shared with everyone she met. She described her religion as Kindness, believing that the world would be a better place if we were kinder to one another.

See also:

Honoring the Life of Martha McLean, Campaign for Southern Equality 

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