Margaret Sherwood Burwell Burgin

TUSCALOOSA Margaret Sherwood Burwell Burgin, age 103, of Tuscaloosa, died Dec. 20, 2010, at LaRocca Nursing Home. Graveside services will be 11:30 a.m. Monday at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park with Dr. Kenneth A. Dunivant Senior Pastor officiating and Tuscaloosa Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing. Visitation will be 90 minutes prior to services at the funeral home.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stiles Ulmer; husband Benjamin Lafayette "Pug" Burgin; brother Ellis Burwell; daughter Margaret Elizabeth "Bettie" Coons Copeland; and grandson, Karl Coons.

She is survived by her son, Robert Benjamin Burgin (Dale) of Ocean Springs, Miss.; granddaughters, Margaret D. Coons (Chuck Dodd), Ellen Copeland (Jerome Kekatos) of Mobile, Allison Miles (Dennis), Linda Burgin Lupo (John) of Orlando, Fla., and Marty Reynolds (Tim) of Ocean Springs, Miss.; grandsons, George Michael Lawrence (Johnene) of Baton Rouge, La. and Kenneth William Coons, II (Terri) of Kernersville, NC..; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

"Granny" was born April 15, 1907 in Bessemer. After the death of her father at age 26, her mother met and married Stiles Ulmer and moved to the plantation Meadow Brook between Demopolis and Eutaw. After graduating high school, she met Benjamin "Pug" Burgin whom she married Sept. 2, 1933 and then moved to Broad Street in Tuscaloosa where they were blessed with a daughter, Bettie, and a son, Ben.

While being a full time mother and wife, she was very active in First United Methodist Church including the Amaranth-Brandon Sunday school class. She is a life member of United Methodist Women. She was also a member of Chapter R, P.E.O. Sisterhood, Amelia Gayle Gorgas Chapter of UDC and her children's PTA.

As her children grew up and began life on their own, she remained active in these organizations as well as adding Focus on Senior Citizens and Meals on Wheels, volunteering her time to help others. After the death of her beloved husband of 54 years, she adapted from being a homemaker to the role of an independent woman and continued to generously donated her time and energy to the community as well as actively participate in her grandchildren's lives.

Always demonstrating true southern grace and charm, Granny never met anyone that she didn't hug; she could find something good in everyone and every situation and was loved by many. The people who had the opportunity to know her, if only for a brief time, were truly fortunate and had their lives forever changed. She would want us to rejoice in the wonderful years that she had here on earth and in knowing that she is in Heaven with loved ones watching over us.

Honorary pallbearers are the staff of LaRocca Nursing Home, the staff of Merrill Gardens Assisted Living Facility, her First United Methodist Church family, the P.E.O. Chapter R Sisterhood and the members of Amelia Gayle Gorgas Chapter of UDC.