Maggie was a Beloved Woman of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians. A “Beloved Woman” is a title given to women who have had a significant influence in the tribe, who speak in tribal meetings, and who correspond with Beloved Women from other Indigenous nations. Maggie received this title in 1978 and was only the second person in her tribe to be honored with it.

Her influence stemmed from many aspects of her life. Maggie served as a clerk for the tribe for more than 40 years, and she was an advocate and public speaker, a translator, a teacher who helped preserve Cherokee traditions and language, as well as a midwife and healer. She began working as a midwife when she was 10, helping deliver over 3,000 babies throughout her life. She would often walk great distances to reach the women who needed her assistance.