Constance M. Master

CONSTANCE “CONNIE” MARIE MASTER was born on November 29, 1949, in Baltimore, MD to Samuel and Hazel Turner. A fraternal twin, she was one of the sixth and seventh of the couple’s eight children. She was older than her brother by three minutes, which she never let him forget. She transitioned into an ancestor on March 27, 2024, after a lengthy battle with heart failure. Connie, nicknamed “Duchess” by her parents, exemplified her name through her personality, her precision, and her precociousness. Connie loved learning, reading, writing, drawing, and music. When her mother would play the organ at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, she could often be found humming a tune or pretending to audition to become the next great gospel act with her siblings. She loved going to church, listening to gospel music, and getting dressed up on Sunday mornings. Connie was proudly educated in Baltimore City’s Public Schools. She followed her older sisters Vivian and Veronica to the illustrious Western High School where she graduated in 1967. Shortly after her high school graduation, Connie began her work career. At 17, she earned a coveted position at the Social Security Administration. She then attended Morgan State College (c/o 1972) where she achieved her Bachelor’s degree in English Education intending to become an educator like her sisters. She only taught briefly, but her love for learning endured during her continued pursuit of knowledge. She went on to receive another Bachelor’s degree, this time in Communications from American University and then a Master’s of Science in Taxation from Florida State University. During that journey, she found her calling as a professional writer. Connie worked as a speech writer for the U.S. Post Office, a communications specialist for the Internal Revenue Service, and would complete 42 years of public service-including more than 30 years in the U.S. Department of Treasury-before retiring in 2007. She was married, once, to Ted Master-whose name she kept because it made her feel powerful-but the pair divorced shortly after their marriage. After that, she vowed never to marry again-and did not. In 1988, Connie gave birth to her only child Samantha Elizabeth, named after her parents. She called Samantha her “miracle baby” because she was told all of her life that, due to her medical conditions, she would not be able to have children. Connie and Samantha’s relationship was truly one in which iron sharpened iron, but they never strayed too far away from their love for each other. Connie believed in the value of education as a way to achieve self-determination and self-sufficiency. She adored the classroom as a place for skill-building, dreaming, and world-making. As the grandchild, child, and sister of educators-as well as a classroom educator herself for a time-she valued learning as much as she could. To wit, she spent a great deal of time in hospitals throughout her life because of her type-1 diabetes diagnosis at a young age and she found learning and stories to be a companion. Her absolute favorite stories were Biblical stories. They gave her a sense of purpose, faith, and determination during her most difficult days. When Samantha joined Black Saga, a Black history competition for Maryland elementary and middle schoolers, Connie became a parent-advocate, and began helping coordinate the Black Saga Awards program, turning it into a gala-like affair. Connie taught Samantha how to be self-determined, to never be afraid to ask for what you want, and that “no” wasn’t a barrier, just a portal to a creative “yes.” Samantha taught Connie about boundaries and unconditional self-acceptance. Connie truly exemplified the phrase, “to thine own self be true” and was fond of telling people, “You do what you like. I’ll do what I like.” Connie had a deep love of the people she came from; she never missed a Cottman Family Reunion nor a chance to. connect with her kin on the Eastern Shore. She was a member of the outreach committee for the Cottman Family Reunion and took her job seriously and with pride.

Tributes

Constance M. Master

November 29, 1942 - March 27, 2024