Margaret Buntin Burnett Wolfkill

Margaret Buntin Burnett Wolfkill died at home in Memphis, Tennessee on November 19, 2024, with her family at her side.

She is survived by Jason Wolfkill, her adoring and adored husband of 20 years; her beloved children, Kathryn Wolfkill, Brandon Wolfkill, and Megan Wolfkill; mother Martha Grant Burnett; siblings Elizabeth Burnett (Ed Pyle), William Joseph Burnett, Jr. (Joanna), and Kathryn Elliott (Allen); nieces and nephews William Elliott (Taylor), Miller Elliott Fonteyne (Mike), Lock Elliott, Grant Burnett (Emily), Thomas Burnett, and Annalise Burnett; many cousins; and many dear friends in her family of choice. She was preceded in death by her father, William Joseph Burnett, M.D.

Margaret was born in Memphis and raised in Oxford, Mississippi. After earning her Bachelor of Science in English and Secondary Education at Vanderbilt University in 1988, where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority, she taught English at The Ensworth School in Nashville, Tennessee and then served as the Director of Christian Education at First Presbyterian Church in Oxford. In 1994, she answered her call to ordained ministry and matriculated at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia.

Upon completing her Master of Divinity degree in 1997, Margaret was ordained as minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). She served as associate pastor for children's ministry and outreach at Germantown Presbyterian Church in Germantown, Tennessee and as associate pastor for outreach at Idlewild Presbyterian Church in Memphis. Margaret's deep love of God's children led her to propose and form Children and Family Enrichment at Idlewild, a non-profit program providing children and parents with tools for lifelong resilience.

More recently, Margaret served as the stated supply pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Kennett, Missouri and as transitional pastor at Shady Grove Presbyterian Church in Memphis. In June 2024, she was installed as the pastor and head of staff at Shady Grove Presbyterian Church. Margaret also provided guidance and support to churches and associated non-profit organizations in consulting roles with Ministry Architects and Ministry Incubators and mentored and coached colleagues in ministry.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection to give thanks for Margaret's life and ministry will be held at Idlewild Presbyterian Church, 1750 Union Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38104, on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 11 a.m., with a reception to follow.

Margaret's faith, compassion, and kindness touched thousands of people throughout her life. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to Shady Grove Presbyterian Church, 5330 Shady Grove Road, Memphis, Tennessee 38120, shadygrovepres.org/get-involved/ways-to-give; PRIZM Ensemble, P.O. Box 771200, Memphis, Tennessee 38177-1200, prizmensemble.org/get-involved; or Children and Family Enrichment at Idlewild (CAFE), 28 S. Evergreen Street, Memphis, Tennessee 38104, cafeidlewild.org/donate.