Margaret Akers

BRANDON, Miss. - Margaret Louise Stella Akers, 86, of Brandon, Miss., passed away Saturday, June 12, 2021, at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Miss., with family members by her side.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Brandon. It will be followed by a celebration of life service at 1 p.m. officiated by Jeff Walker in the Ott & Lee Chapel.

Pallbearers at the Brandon funeral service will be grandsons, Nathaniel "Nate" Akers, Jared Akers, Daniel Gray, Keith Manuel, Bart Crain and Brett Crain.

The following day, Friday, a visitation for family and friends will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Emerson Funeral Home in Jonesboro, which will be followed by a graveside service in Pine Log Cemetery in Brookland, also officiated by Jeff Walker.

Margaret will be laid to rest beside her husband of 50 years, Paul N. Akers in Pine Log Cemetery, Brookland.

Pallbearers at the graveside service will be grandsons, Nathaniel "Nate" Akers, Jared Akers, Keith Manuel, Jacob Harrison, Ryan Harrison, Todd Gill, Justin Hill and Tyler Brady.

Margaret was born July 14, 1934, in Friars Point, Miss., to a family of Italian immigrant sharecroppers. She learned how to work in the cotton fields of the Mississippi Delta at the early age of 8.

Combining the work ethics and values inspired by her family and her natural intelligence and strength, she matured to become not only a mother to 11 children, but a very successful businesswoman in an era when most women didn't work outside the home, much less own their own business.

Margaret was a longtime resident of Jonesboro, moving there with her husband Paul and their 11 children in the early 1960s and living there until 1984.

In Jonesboro, she tirelessly built a stable home for her children and instilled the importance of family.

At the same time, she became a groundbreaker in the answering service business, owning Telephone Answering Service of Jonesboro and becoming a leader in the answering service industry.

In 1984, Margaret and husband, Paul, moved to Brandon where she continued to reside until her death.

After moving to Brandon, Margaret was once again involved in the answering service business as a co-owner and manager of AnswerStat!, Jackson, Miss., until she retired at the end of 1992.

After her retirement, Margaret worked for several years as a substitute teacher in the Puckett, Miss., schools and helped her husband establish an export business to Central America.

She was a longtime member of Grace Baptist Church in Brandon.

She was widely known as an excellent cook and family dinner at her house, especially on Sundays and holidays, was always a special treat not to be missed.

In her last years, dementia stole many of her short-term memories, but she always remembered how much she loved the Lord and babies.

She spread His word to anyone who would listen and could calm a baby with a soothing touch. She knew how to work a room and had the talent to make people around her laugh, smile and feel motivated and loved.

She will be remembered with love and a smile by her children as "Mom," her grandchildren as either "Mimi, Momma or Grams" and her great-grandchildren as "Gigi."

Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Paul N. Akers; mother, Rosie Stella Hollowell; grandparents, Angelina Giosa (Jose) Stella and Charlie Stella; son, Charles R. "Rusty" Akers; daughters Judith Akers Hannah and Paula Akers Gill; grandson, Andrew Nicholas Walker; and granddaughter, Christi Crain Garland.

She is survived by five daughters, Carol Akers Crain (Garry) of Louisville, Tenn., Dottie Akers Brady (Mike) of Lonoke, Katherine Akers Gray (John) and Joyce Akers Walker, both of Brandon, and Elizabeth Akers Harrison (David) of Water Valley, Miss.; three sons, Charles Anthony Manuel of Canton, Miss., and Michael A. Akers (Anita) and Clifton P. Akers (Mika), both of Brandon; 22 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Grace Baptist Church, Brandon, The Mind Center at UMMC, the Alzheimer's Association or other charity.

Online condolences: www.ottandlee.com