Mary Margaret Hayden

Mary Margaret Hayden (née Bledsoe), 72, of Beechgrove, Tennessee, passed away on September 2, 2025, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, after a brief illness and hospitalization.

Born on February 16, 1953, in Memphis, Tennessee, Mary Margaret was the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Robert E. Bledsoe, Sr. She spent her formative years in Greenville, Mississippi, and graduated from Greenville High School in 1972. She began her collegiate studies at The University of the South in Sewanee before earning a Bachelor of Arts in English and Social Work from the University of Mississippi. She later pursued a second degree—a Bachelor of Science in Nursing—from Delta State University.

Mary Margaret's life was marked by both intellectual curiosity and compassionate service. Her dual degrees in English and Nursing speak to her ability to blend thoughtful reflection with practical service - qualities that shaped her personal and professional life.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Donald S. Hayden; her parents; and her sister, Jo Carol Bledsoe.

Mary Margaret found joy and creative expression through yarn arts, particularly spinning, weaving and knitting. These crafts were more than hobbies - they were acts of patience, meditation, and artistry that brought comfort to her and those around her. A woman of faith, Mary Margaret worshipped in Episcopal and Methodist traditions throughout her life.

May her memory bring comfort to those who knew her. A Memorial Gathering will be held on December 8, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Falls Mill and Museum, 134 Falls Mill Road in Belvidere, Tennessee.