Margaret Thrower

Family-Placed Death Notice

THROWER, Margaret MARGARET MUNROE THROWER Margaret Munroe Thrower, of Atlanta, 93, died peacefully on February 17 from complications following a fall on Jan. 16. Her husband, Randolph W. Thrower, was at her side. Margaret Logan Munroe was born on September 15, 1915 in Quincy, Fla., the third of eight children of Mark Welch (Pat) Munroe and Mary Gray Munroe. Her father, the President of the Quincy State Bank, referred to her as "The Gold Child," and she was always noted for her beauty, bright spirit, and generosity. She received her B.A. degree in 1935 from Wesleyan College in Macon, Ga., where she majored in biology and was president of the senior class. Her loyalty to Wesleyan continued throughout her life with frequent visits and enthusiastic support. She married Randolph William Thrower in Quincy on February 2, 1939, and their inspirational and continuing romance was celebrated on their recent 70th wedding anniversary. Together they raised five children, and Margaret played an active role in their activities, including service as co-president with Randolph of the E. Rivers PTA. Margaret was a partner with Randolph in his many ventures, whether keeping house in a Marine Quonset hut, throwing the Christmas party for Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan at home each year for decades, or enthusiastically embracing life in Washington during Randolph's service as Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, 1969-71. Together with family and friends, she loved adventurous travel. With her husband, children and grandchildren, she climbed Ben Nevis (Great Britain's highest peak) when in her 80s, and visited Cuba when almost 90. Although she traveled many continents, her boldest venture was a six-week cross-country road trip with her husband and five children in a station wagon and camping trailer in the summer of 1962. Margaret loved Sunnyside Farm in Gadsden County, Fla., property inherited from her mother and a happy gathering place for her extended family over the last three decades. When the frontier Florida farmhouse, dating from the mid-1800s, was struck by lightning and burned to the ground in April, 2007, Margaret's immediate response was to build again. The new house was completed in time for Thanksgiving 2008, when Margaret hosted her immediate family -- 29 people. She was also a lifelong gardener and a founding member and trustee of the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Other volunteer commitments included the Tullie Smith House at the Atlanta History Center, and the Board of Directors of Skyland Trail, George West Mental Health Foundation. She maintained numerous lifelong correspondences and was a loving friend to many. Her cultivation of friends of many ages, her joyous enthusiasm, and her graceful sense of humor kept her young in spirit, and she enjoyed life through her final days. Margaret was also an artist. Her family celebrated her 90th birthday with the publication of a catalog entitled "Paintings from the Heart." She painted what she loved, and her work included landscapes of her farm and travels, still lifes from her kitchen and garden, and portraits of family members. Margaret is survived by her husband Randolph, 95, and her five children: Margaret Thrower MacCary of New York, Patricia Thrower Barmeyer of Atlanta, Laura Thrower Harris (David) of New York, Randolph William Thrower, Jr. (Carolyn) of Atlanta, and Mary Thrower Wickham (George) of Richmond, Virginia. She and Randolph have 11 grandchildren -- William Thomas MacCary III, Margaret Chambers MacCary, Wilson Gray Barmeyer, Mary Logan Barmeyer, Taylor Randolph Harris, Patricia Munroe Harris, Benjamin Key Thrower, Randolph William Thrower III, Albert Crenshaw Thrower, Henry Clayton Wickham, and William Randolph Wickham -- and six great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Julia Munroe Woodward, 94, of Quincy, and scores of devoted nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends at Patterson's Spring Hill on Saturday, February 21 from 3 to 5 p.m. The celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, February 22 at 2 p.m. at Northside United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wesleyan College, Office of Institutional Development, 4760 Forsyth Rd., Macon, GA 31210 (tel. 478-757-5187), or to the charity of your choice.