Margaret Fields Garrett

 

Blacksburg, VA — Margaret Garrett, 93, passed peacefully into the hands of God on Tuesday, June 13th at her home.

 

Born Ella Margaret Fields in 1923 in Birmingham, AL., the daughter of the North Birmingham Fire Chief, she graduated from Phillips High School. Her mother died when Margaret was a young teenager; and as the oldest daughter, the duties of taking care of the household and raising her younger siblings fell to her. After high school graduation she worked as an administrative assistant at Haverty Furniture store.

With World War II coming on, a dashing Lieutenant of the Army Airborne Infantry stole her heart. She married O.G. Garrett in 1943, also from Birmingham, before he departed overseas. Margaret served as an Army officer’s wife for 32 years, traveling the world from Japan to Europe, and all over the USA from Alaska to Georgia. Upon retirement they settled in Southern Pines, NC, where their life together in the Army had begun. Margaret and O.G. were married 53 happy years. After her husband’s passing she moved to Blacksburg to be near her family.

 

Margaret was an avid golfer, a beautiful seamstress, a wonderful gardener, an elegant entertainer, a book lover, but most of all, a devoted wife and mother. Despite the rigors of a nomadic Army life, she worked tirelessly to nurture a loving and happy home and served as an example of grace, honesty, and humility for her 3 children and 7 grandchildren. She was a role model to her family of how to carry oneself with dignity and strength, even in the most difficult circumstances. She had a limitless kind and generous spirit and enjoyed life to the fullest.

She is preceded in death by her devoted husband, Col.(R) O.G. Garrett and her beloved son, Lt. Robert Garrett. She is survived by her son MG(R) Thomas W. Garrett and wife Betsy of Seabrook, SC, her daughter Patricia Bickley and husband Steve of Blacksburg, daughter-in-law Ivette Garrett of Colorado Springs, CO, grandchildren Tracy Sears, Meggin Grobmyer, Kirsten Walker, Matthew Garrett, Sam Bickley, Andrew Bickley, and Max Bickley, and 9 great-grandchildren.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Good Samaritan Hospice, www.goodsamhospice.org.

 

McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg, and Powell Funeral Home, Southern Pines, are entrusted with the arrangements. Visitation will be at McCoy Funeral Home on Friday, June 16 from 4:00-5:00, followed by a memorial service. A private graveside service will be held at Pinelawn Cemetery in Southern Pines, NC Saturday, June 17 at 2:00.

 

The family asks that you spend time with your loved ones, walk humbly, and share a toast and a smile whenever possible. This is what Margaret would wish for you.