Louise Elizabeth Baker Buie was born April 3, 1914, to the late Joseph and Margaret E. Baker in Dorchester, Georgia. She was the older sister to one brother, the late Howard J. Baker. The family made West Palm Beach their permanent home in 1925. Her education was interrupted during her teen years, and she went to work to help support the family. However, this turn of events early in life did not embitter her, as she learned to trust God and determined that in her small way, she would do everything possible to make it easier for someone else. Thus, at an early age, she became a dedicated worker for humanity. She was married to the late Albert Buie, and was blessed with the birth of one child, a son Paul Charles Buie, who met with an accidental death by drowning. She then devoted her time to shaping the lives of her two granddaughters, now adults; and continued until her death to be a major influence and aide in developing the lives of three great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson.

Under the pastorate of Rev. R.D. Powell, she united with Roanoke Baptist Church, where she served in the Sunday School, BYPU, Red Circle, Junior Choir, Usher Board, Young Matrons, and as ward secretary. She also served as Church Financial Secretary and Reporter. These church activities served to motivate her innate missionary spirit and propelled her into the larger community to help her fellow man through participation in far-reaching social and civic movements and projects such as The Appreciation Committee of the Palm Beaches, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

She joined the local branch of the NAACP in 1937 and worked her way up from positions on the entertainment, membership, and finance committees to Assistant Secretary of the Branch. In 1954, she was elected to the Executive Committee and later in the same year became President. The local issue at that time was public school improvement for Blacks and the elimination of double sessions in all schools. With the Palm Beach Voters League, she worked for the right to vote in Democratic Primaries and the ending of all-white primaries. As a result of concerted voter registration drives, Black policemen were appointed to the Palm Beach County Police Force. She was also instrumental in making it possible for Black police officers to participate in or make arrests of all law offenders or violators, regardless of race. These men were later permitted to patrol downtown areas of our city and perform as all other police officers in other sections of Palm Beach County.

Mrs. Buie also engineered efforts that resulted in improved streets, better lighting and other facilities and services in predominantly Black neighborhoods. Additional service with the Inter-Civic League civil rights suits resulted in the opening of golf courses and other recreational facilities to all citizens. With the Human Rights Council, she aided in opening restaurants and hotels to all people regardless of race, creed, or color. Under her leadership, the NAACP was involved in projects to open facilities to all on an equal basis from Riviera Beach to Miami, Florida. She participated in many Civil Rights marches locally, statewide, and the universally renown March on Washington in 1963, always with the objective to further the cause of civil rights. Her career life and occupation ranged from providing domestic services to that of Insurance Agent with the Afro-American Life Insurance Company, from which she retired in 1976 after 28 years of service, and most recently as a Certified Nurse’s Aide with the Visiting Nurses Association. Her dedication to civic causes most often led to experiencing a loss in personal income, for she served these causes without salary. Mrs. Buie, after serving two terms that spanned over 25 years, was President Emeritus for the local NAACP branch and still was very actively involved in many civic causes representing her constituents and the citizenry of Palm Beach County and the State of Florida.

As a recipient of numerous awards, plaques, and citations for outstanding community service, distinguished service, achievement awards, she was honored and recognized by being named Zeta Phi Beta’s State of Florida Woman of the Year; Omega Psi Phi’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year; The National Association of Negro Business & Professional Women’s National Sojourner Truth Meritorious Award, NAACPÕs Million Dollar Medallion Award, and 33rd Annual Leadership Development Award presented by The Adolph Coors Company. Having gone the last mile of the way in fulfilling a life-long commission for equality for all people, and following a brief period of illness, she went from labor to reward at morning tide on Tuesday, December 02, 2003.