The Gander, Michigan Women Making History - Esther Gordy Edwards

Posting on behalf of forum member Woodward:

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Often referred to as the “Mother of Motown,” Esther Gordy Edwards played a crucial role in the foundation—as well as the preservation—of the Motown Historical Museum.

After giving her younger brother Berry Gordy an $800 loan to establish Motown Records in 1959, Esther went on to serve in several executive positions with the Detroit-based record company for nearly thirty years.

To preserve the original headquarters of “Hitsville, USA,” Esther established the Motown Historical Museum in 1985. Two years later, the State of Michigan honored the museum's contributions to music, art, and culture by designating it as a historical landmark.

Today, the Motown Museum has become one of Southeast Michigan’s most popular tourist attractions—and it’s only getting better.

After years of planning, the facility secured $65 million to expand the museum into a 50,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, creative hub for entrepreneurship and education. The new museum—Hitsville NEXT—will feature a professional recording studio, performance theater, interactive exhibits, and a retail space. Hitsville NEXT will be designed and built around the current Motown Museum space and Hitsville USA house.

I believe she was an officer of a bank before joining her brother.