Margaret Kargbo, 1979-2015

It’s hard to fathom the death of someone who gave Atlanta so much life. But the spirit of Margaret Kargbo — the arts advocate, social activist, and PR professional — continues to resonate in the community she served and called home.

Kargbo, 36, died in a tragic car accident in South Georgia on May 20 along with local disability activist and musician Frank Barham. They were traveling to Savannah, with van driver Carrie Beth Johnson of Villa Rica, while Barham logged 30 miles per day via his wheelchair to raise awareness for people with disabilities. Kargbo was documenting his “Wheel 2 Live” journey from the van following Barham when a gas tanker hit them from behind. Johnson was the lone survivor of the three.

The immediate shock that shook the community upon word of her death has evolved into a daily celebration of Kargbo’s life — from social media to social events.

Close friends and acquaintances continue to offer scrolling tributes via Facebook, outlining the constants that defined Kargbo’s spirit: her smile and contagious laughter, her ability to empower and bring people together, and her willingness to say yes no matter the task.

“She had a great passion for life,” close friend and Burnaway board member Oronike Odeleye said in an obituary published on the Atlanta arts organization’s site. “Even in hard times, you could look to her for a laugh or a smile. She could laugh at herself. She could continually get up, over and over. She had a million projects going at the same time. She knew anybody and everybody.”

Kargbo was an active leader in multiple arts organizations and community nonprofits. She served as current board chair at C4; board member at radio station WRFG; steering committee member for both Idea Capital and the Arts Funding Organization; and founding member of the philanthropic collective the Ladies Board. In addition to running her own boutique creative arts agency iWonder Media Group, her PR, marketing, and fundraising experience included work for the National Black Arts Festival, League of Women Voters of DeKalb County, GTM Central, SPARK Reproductive Justice, Gene Kansas Developments, and more. Kargbo was also co-founder and public affairs director for human rights nonprofit Women Engaged.

“She was someone who was always in the right places at the right times on the right issues,” says City Councilman Kwanza Hall, who saw Kargbo, Barham, and Johnson off for what was supposed to be a 301-mile journey when they departed Atlanta May 11 from the Center for Civil and Human Rights.

Hall, who recalls meeting Kargbo years ago as they continued to turn up at the same art-related events, notes her local activism was global in scope. In 2013, she worked with the councilman to organize a caravan of Atlantans for a trip to Virginia to assist with the election of current Governor Terry McAuliffe.

“All of us knew Margaret as a passionate advocate for individual artists and artistic causes, but that was just the tip of the iceberg. She was also in the middle of important work on women’s issues and causes that impact people of color,” he says. “Her political skills and instincts were phenomenal, which is why so many progressive Atlantans and local advocacy groups feel her loss so deeply.”

The loss is also very personal for friends like Madam CJ. The Atlanta musician and performer met Kargbo five years ago at Yo! Karaoke, the weekly, familial karaoke events artist Fahamu Pecou began hosting at Pal’s Lounge in 2010. CJ became fast friends with Kargbo. “She told me she was originally from Jackson, Miss., and that her parents were from Sierra Leone,” CJ says. “I said, ‘So you are a true African-American, huh?’ She laughed and said, ‘Yeah, first generation.’”

They soon discovered they were both practicing Nichiren Buddhists. Today Madam CJ credits Kargbo with teaching her the virtue of patience, calling her “a model of social justice and activism.”

“I also learned from her that my work as an artist can have meaning and a platform,” she says. “... She lived and died her mission, which was helping people. She will be remembered for that beautiful Black woman smile, her patience, and her capacity to be the life of the party.”

A short documentary shot in 2008 about Kargbo’s community involvement serves today as a compelling portrait. Even the title, There’s Something about Margaret, is telling.

“Her energy, her grace, her confidence, her intelligence was just so very present and alive,” says Ryan D. Smith, who asked Kargo shortly after befriending her if she would be the subject of the short for a filmmaking scholarship. Of course, she said yes.

But it was what she said on-camera that still resonates. Describing herself as a “social butterfly” on a mission, she explains her earthly purpose.

“I believe that one day my voice and the work that I’m doing will make a huge difference in the world,” Kargbo says between scenes that show her mentoring young women and interviewing the likes of Martin Luther King III. “Everything I do I really want it to be done with a purpose. And a big part of that is because I’m a firm believer in sustainable communities.”

Kargbo’s funeral was held in her hometown of Jackson, Miss., on May 30. A GoFundMe page administered by friends to offset her family’s funeral costs surpassed the goal of $25,000 in less than two weeks. A Margaret Kargbo Celebration Page on Facebook also serves as a living testament. In every picture posted, the presence of that same life-giving smile is a reminder of her undying spirit.

Correction: An earlier version of this story gave incorrect details about Margaret Kargbo’s remains. Her body was cremated and her funeral was held in Jackson, Miss.