Margaret Sanders Harrison

Margaret Sanders Harrison was born in Franklin, North Carolina and died November 13, 2012 in Portsmouth, Virginia, surrounded by her loving family. She was the daughter of Jesse Lafayette Sanders and Ida Shope Sanders of Franklin. A 1942 graduate of Franklin High School, Margaret was also an alumna of Western Carolina University and Mars Hill College. She moved to Portsmouth during World War II and worked at Portsmouth Naval Hospital until the birth of her first child. Margaret began her teaching career in a two-room school in Nantahala, North Carolina, and later was one of the founding teachers at Court Street Academy in Portsmouth, where she taught kindergarten for 30 years. She was a member of Court Street Baptist Church for over 60 years, and was a devoted teacher in the Sunday School there for decades. She was also a member of the Edna Halpin Circle at the church and a member of the Scottish Rite Ladies. During the course of her long life, Margaret enjoyed travel to New York and Montreal, visits to her grandchildren in Chicago, and a wonderful trip to Dartmouth College to visit her granddaughter. Margaret was noted for her skill at growing African violets, and she and her husband also were avid vegetable gardeners. She was very fond of her loving dog, Noah. Most of all, Margaret was devoted to her family, and doted on her beloved grandchildren. She and her husband, Everett, were married for over 59 years. Margaret is survived by her daughters, Barbara Harrison Bess and husband Philip of South Bend, Indiana and Florence Harrison Michener of Portsmouth; her son, Clarence Everett Harrison Jr. and wife Christy of Suffolk; her six grandchildren, Jennifer, Peter and wife Jessica, and Alexander Bess and Megan, Kelsey, and Caylan Harrison; her brothers Harris, Jay, Jesse, and Jim Sanders; her sisters Edith Conley, Betty Owens, and Olivia Reece; her aunts Kate Stampley and Mildren Swafford; many loving nieces and nephews; and dear brothers- and sisters-in-law. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Everett Harrison, Sr.; by her parents; by her sisters Willa and Elura Belle and brother Charles; and by her granddaughter Hilary Anne Bess. Margaret's funeral will be Saturday, November 17, at 10 A.M. at Court Street Baptist Church, with Dr. L. Wilbur Kersey presiding. Burial will be in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens. Visitation will occur Friday from 6 to 7:30 P.M. at Loving Funeral Home in Churchland. Memorial contributions may be made to the Court Street Baptist Church Endowment Fund or to a charity of choice. The family also would like to thank Margaret's devoted caregivers, Marion Scott and Anne Stephenson. Online condolences may be made at www.lovingfuneralhome.com.