Maggie Lena Draper Mitchell (later Walker) was born in Richmond, Virginia, in the final years of the Civil War.
Maggie Lena Walker was born on July 15, 1864, in Richmond, Virginia, during the closing years of the American Civil War. Born to Elizabeth Draper, a former slave, and Eccles Cuthbert, her early life was shaped by the era's socio-economic transitions. Her birth set the stage for her future as a pioneering figure in banking and civil rights, influencing generations to come by breaking through significant racial and gender barriers.