Hester Nelson Suggs (1928-2016) | University of Illinois Archives

Name: Hester Nelson Suggs (1928-2016)

Historical Note: Hester Suggs was born and Raised in Champaign-Urbana, IL. She received her Bachelor and Master's degree both from the University of Illinois. In 1948 Hester Nelson married Raymond Eugene Suggs, a photographer with the Courier Newspaper. She was principal of Booker T. Washington Elementary School in Champaign for 22 years. Before that, she taught at Dr. Howard School and was the first Black teacher at Leal Elementary School. In the 1990s Suggs served in the Champaign County African-American History Committee, writing articles on local African-American history for the Through the Years newsletter series.