Last week at this time I was in Fayetteville, TN making funeral arragements for my Aunt Marga
ret. She wasn't just any aunt. She was THE Aunt Margaret, known and loved throughout Lincoln County. My husband and I called her Sunday evening after dinner, which was often the time we called. We happily discussed her sheep and her dog Nellie Sue, as we made plans to have lunch later in the week. Less than 2 hours later, the phone rang to tell us she was gone.
Monday evening I sat and wrote the one obituary that really needed to be written.
Jennings, Margaret C., Age 100. August 30, 1908 to February 15, 2008. Preceded in death by parents Claude and Bell (Pickett) Jennings, Brothers William Albin and Henry B. Jennings. Preceded in death by two nieces Jeanette Jennings Williams and Faye Chumley Crocker, daughters of brother Henry and two nephews, Charles and Joe Lynn Jennings, sons of brother Albin, and great nephew, William Claude Talley, son of Betty Jennings Talley.
She grew up on March Mill Road and in 1915 was able to walk down the hill from home to enter first grade at the Egam School, erected on property donated by her father. She graduated from Lincoln County High School in 1927 and attended Bryson College in Fayetteville from 1927 until 1929 when Bryson closed. She graduated from Tennessee College for Women in 1931 and did post-graduate work at Middle Tennessee State Teachers College in Murfreesboro. She was a member of the Classical Club, the Ruskin Liberary society and the class hockey team.
The 1931 Dryad said of Miss Jennings:
“The calm of a beauteous spirit,
The peace of a lovely heart,
Charm surpassing delicate
From common life apart.”
Her first attempt at teaching was in 1931, during the Depression. She was told that her “daddy had a good farm and she should go home and work on it.” In 1943-44, she taught English and Latin at Morgan School, a private school in Petersburg, TN. In the fall of 1944 she began teaching at Flintville High School where, for 30 years, she taught Latin and English and served as the school librarian. She never married, so has no children of her own, but through her teaching and example has left a lasting impression on her students.
In a column of the Fayetteville Observer “50 Years Ago, February 6, 1941 – Did you know that “ The Lincoln County Circulating Library under the leadership of Miss Margaret Jennings is furnishing books to every part of the county.
She is survived by Nieces Charlotte Jennings Forrester, Betty Jennings Talley and Jane Holder McCampbell. Great nephews Bob Forrester, David Talley, James Howard “Bo” Talley, Charles Jennings, Jr., Gene H. Owen Jr., Robert Jennings Williams, William Thomas Crocker, and James Edward Crocker. Great nieces Connie Owen Harvey, Patti Chumley Smith, Claudia Jennings Ikard, Carolyn Jennings Keefer, Ellen Jennings Harris, Lou Ann Talley Watt and Paula Talley Caldiraro. Great, great nephews, Carlos Jennings, Jason Forrester,and Brandon Talley.. Great, great nieces, Christie Caldiraro, Madison Caldiraro, Jennifer Watt, Megan Forrester, Ashlyn Knaur, Jennifer Ikard Johnson, Melanie Ikard Neuman, and Danielle Crocker. Great Great Great nephew Thomas Neumann, and Graham Johnson, and great great great nieces Charlotte Neu
mann and Caroline Johnson
She would most want to be remembered as a “Teacher.” She lived her life following the rules taught in Titus 3: Speak no evil against any person, Live in peace with other people, Be gentle to others and Be polite to other people. She will truly be remembered for loving people and never seeing the bad in anyone. She was the model of human virtue and was sincere, honest and fair in all her dealings. She remained a faithful member of the Washington Street Church of Christ. Although she is no longer with us, her memory is forever planted in the hearts of those who loved and admired her.
Funeral services Were Thursday February 19th, 11 am at Higgins Funeral Home in Fayetteville.There is a beautiful memorial on their website with memories and tributes written by many who knew her.
She never saw one of God’s creature that she didn’t love. Her life was brightened by many pets, especially her dog, Nellie Sue, and a fawn she named “Precioius.”
Connie - I am so sorry for your loss. I am sure that she was a special lady!
Connie - I am so sorry for your loss. I am sure that she was a special lady!
Connie, I am so sorry for your loss. She sounds like a delightful person who lived and loved life.
Lovely memories you have, Connie. She reminds me of some of the people in my family who have gone on. May she rest in peace.
My mom was a teacher in Alabama about the same time as your aunt, and she and my dad married secretly because if the country has known she had married, she would have lost her job 'because she now had a husband to support her.'
Kenneth, She was such a doll. Eccentric but a delight to be with.
Missy, She will live on forever. I spent yesterday cleaning out her room at assisted living. She was only there 3 years and I know I carried out 3 or 4 hundred cards that I will go through one at a time.
Sarah and John, I know that she's in good hands and that I WILL see her again. My grandfather, her brother, was also a teacher. Thankfully, because he was the husband he didn't face those issues. They were lucky to have jobs during that time.
Connie, I do believe Aunt Margaret was very proud of you. So many of her qualities live on in you! Thanks for sharing the life of this beautiful woman and teacher.
Margaret, thank you. I know she was too. She could talk about anything and anywhere because she was so well read. I have never known anyone to have so much love to share to so many people. I'll never stop being amazed at how many people loved and admired her.
Connie - our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Life hasn't ended remember it's just changed. How blessed you and your husband are to have had such a great chat with her before she passed on. She'll live another 100 years in the all the peoples lives she touched. And through you.
Hi Connie! I am so sorry to hear about your Aunt Margaret. You know my grandmother, who would be the same exact age now, lived during the depression and was an English and Latin high school teacher. Her enthusiam for life and books mirror those of your dear Aunt. What a beautiful tribute and thank you for sharing this.
Pam, We were so blessed to have her for so many years, and almost always in good health. In 1998 one of her former classes established a scholarship fund in her honor for her 90th birthday. She will indeed live on for many years to come.
Debe, It's had to discribe having a person like this in your life. I'm glad you got to experience it too. Writing a tribute to her was the VERY least I could do.
Connie, my sympathy to you in the loss of your Aunt Margaret. But what a legacy she left behind and what wonderful memories you can cherish. I had a dear Aunt who would be 101 this year and her love and inspiration will always be in my heart. Aunt Edie was also my godmother and we all loved her dearly.
Sharon, thank you so much. It just seems like there's something special about aunts. Especial great-aunts. That generation just isn't made any more. There's a reason why Tom Brockaw called them "the greatest Generation" in his book.
Connie....my heart and prayers reach out to you! Lucky you to have had someone like that in your family for so long....and especially have been able to talk to her just before she returned to The Lord.
He works in mysterious ways we never understand...but he has his ways.
Best wishes for you and your family.
Thom, as I have said over and over. She was an incredible blessing, not only to me and my family, but to all that knew her.
Connie, what a blessing your Aunt was. I know you will miss her but WOW living to 100 that in itself is quite the accomplishment. My Dad is 91 and going strong so who knows.
Marchel, Yes she was. No matter when your father passes, you will miss him too. And yet, you know he had a long life. It's never a good time to lose them!