Margaret Zehmer Searcy

1926 - 2017

TUSCALOOSA – Margaret Zehmer Searcy, age 90, of Tuscaloosa, died May 27, 2017 at St. Vincent's Hospital Birmingham. She was surrounded by family and Rev. Michael Bailey, senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa. A memorial service will be held in the Westervelt-Warner Chapel of the First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa on Sunday, June 11, 2017 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Lou Ann Sellers and Rev. James Goodlet officiating. A reception will follow in Warner Hall. A private family burial at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park will precede the memorial service. Arrangements will be handled by Tuscaloosa Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. Margaret Zehmer Searcy was born October 11, 1926 in Raleigh, North Carolina. She lived most of her early years in Birmingham and Mountain Brook. She was the only child of Agnes Tyler Johnson and John Adrian McClure Zehmer. Margaret's parents reared her to love the Lord. At an early age, they introduced her to the world of books. Margaret was a wonderful daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and friend who always tried to do the best she could in whatever she did. She was preceded in death by her husband of over 59 years, Joseph A. Searcy, Jr. and her son, Joseph A. Searcy III. She is survived by her daughters, Margaret "Margie" Searcy Alford (Andy) and Elizabeth "Libby" Searcy Miller (Chris) and her daughter-in-love, Jane Berry Searcy. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Christopher Lucier Miller, Jr., Tyler Searcy Miller, George Zehmer Miller, Joseph "Jeph" Alexander Searcy IV, her granddaughter Margaret "Mallie" Alice Searcy Hale (James); and numerous other relatives and friends. In 1946, at the age of 19, Margaret earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Duke University. In 1954, she became the first student to receive a Master of Arts in Anthropology from The University of Alabama. Her thesis was "Tuscaloosa County Hunting". Yes, it was Margaret who taught her husband, son and grandson, Jeph, to hunt. Well, not really, but like Margaret would have said, "It makes an entertaining story". In 1963, she was hired to teach in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at The University of Alabama. She was a founding member of the Department of Anthropology when it became a separate entity from the Sociology Department in 1967. She provided the first exposure to anthropology for thousands of students at Alabama. She retired in 1988 as emeritus faculty. During the years she taught Anthropology at the University, she became involved in two projects that involved prehistoric peoples of the Southeast. Since no children's books had been written about the inhabitants of Alabama's Mound State Monument area, Margaret researched and wrote two series of books on the subject. One of these books is Alli Gator Gets a Bump on His Nose. Margaret served on numerous boards and was a member of many associations, such as the American Anthropological Association, Guild of Professional Writers for Children, Alabama Academy of Science, and Alabama Archaeological Society. She often served as an officer in her many organizations. Throughout her life she received many awards, including a faculty grant by The University of Alabama (1969), Alabama Consortium of Higher Education Award (1973), Charlton W. Tebeau Literary Award from Florida Historical Society (for Ikwa of the Temple Mounds), Alabama Author Award and Alabama Library Association Award (1980, for Tiny Bat and the Ball Game). Margaret was very proud of her work, including U.S. Congressional testimony associated with the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians. One of her most cherished honors was being officially adopted by the MOWA Choctaw tribe. Margaret truly believed in daily acts of kindness. She was an active member of many charitable and civic organizations, including the Junior Welfare Association, which later became the Junior League. As a volunteer, she was instrumental in starting the first free medical clinic in Tuscaloosa to furnish free medical services to those that could not otherwise afford them. As a founding member of Reading Outreach, she worked with her family to start numerous reading centers in places that did not otherwise have them. She also served on the Tuscaloosa County Juvenile Court advisory board for more than forty years, serving as volunteer to be the first social worker. She then lobbied to get funding to hire the first paid case workers and probation officers for the court Margaret treasured flowers and always had gorgeous gardens throughout the grounds of her home, Oaklana. She was a conservationist and steward of the land, who helped to maintain the family farms: Greene Oaks, Big Creek and Moore's Bridge for use by future generations. She loved First Presbyterian Church where she was an active member and one of the first female elders. Margaret's favorite Bible verse was Luke 12:48, "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required". In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa, The Salvation Army or a favorite charity.