Community Leader. She was an influential leader, chef, and author within the Geechee-Gullah community of America. In 2022, she co-authored the book, "Gullah-Geechee Home Cooking: Recipes from the Matriarch of Edisto Island." Emily resided on Edisto Island, a small community of approximately two thousand people situated near Charleston, South Carolina. Born on Edisto Island, South Carolina, she grew up with Gullah traditions, a culture rich in West and Central African influences including, its own unique language referred to a Geechee, food, rituals, and traditions that make them distinctive among African Americans. Meggett's upbringing was rooted in a large family environment. She was one of five siblings and had over a dozen aunts and uncles. During her younger years, Meggett's family cultivated vegetables, beans, and fruits while also maintaining a rice pond. Additionally, the family raised livestock such as hogs and chickens. Emily Meggett was a devoted wife to her late husband, Jessie Meggett, with whom she shared over 50 years of marriage. Together, they raised three children: John, Susan, and Michael. Emily Meggett's late husband, Jessie, shared her membership in the Gullah culture. Jessie spent his formative years in a modest two-room cabin, which had once been inhabited by slaves. In 2017, this very same cabin was relocated to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, located in Washington, D.C. This historic move solidifies the significance of Jessie's upbringing and the profound impact it had on his life and the larger Gullah community. In addition to being a devoted wife and mother, Mrs. Meggett was also a passionate educator. She spent over 30 years teaching in the Charleston County School District, where she touched the lives of countless students and colleagues. She was a role model to many, and her dedication to education inspired countless students to pursue their dreams. On July 22, 2022, Representative Jim Clyburn bestowed Emily Meggett with the prestigious President's Volunteer Service Award. Accompanied by a note from President Joe Biden, in which he expressed that "we are living in a moment that calls for your hope and your light." As a further tribute, the Mayor of Charleston, John Tecklenburg, declared July 22 as Emily Meggett Day. At the age of ninety, on April 21, 2023, Meggett died.