Margaret Hammett New

1919 - 2017

Margaret Hammett New
August 21, 1919 - March 29, 2017
Dublin, GA- Margaret Hammett New, 97, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, March 29th. A celebration of her life will be held at 12:30 pm on Monday, April 3rdat Henry Memorial Presbyterian Church in Dublin, GA, with burial following at Dublin Memorial Gardens. Rev. Frank Beallof Pensacola, FL and Rev. Mark George will officiate. The family will greet friends from 5:00 to 7:00pm Sunday, April 2nd at Townsend Brothers Funeral Home, 215 W. Jackson Street, Dublin.
Margaret was born in Inman S.C. on August 21,1919. She was one of nine children of the late Sunie Hall Hammett and Archie Keifer Hammett. She grew up in Inman and graduated from Chapman High School. She attended Lander University and Emory University where she received her B.S. in Nursing. She entered the U.S. Army in 1942 as a nurse and was stationed at bases in Montgomery, AL, Greenville, MS, and New Orleans, LA. Following World War II, she came to work at the VA Medical Center in Dublin, GA where she met and married the love of her life, Jacob New.
Margaret loved her nursing profession and enjoyed a long career in nursing education and administration at the VA Medical Center until her retirement in 1980. A devoted member of Henry Memorial Presbyterian Church, she served as a church Elder and a Sunday School teacher for many years. She was a member of the Dublin Service League, an Honorary Member and past president of the Woman's Study Club, and a member of the DAR. She served on the Community Mental Health Service Board of Middle Georgia and the Laurens County Board of Health. In 2003, she was named the Laurens County Senior Citizen of the Year. Margaret was an avid bridge player and she enjoyed playing in several bridge clubs over the years. Among her favorite things were spring flowers, especially camellias, UGA football tailgates, a good bridge hand, traveling with her husband Jake, and spending time with her family. Her grandsons were her pride and joy! Margaret will be remembered for her gentle spirit, her kindness, and her compassion. She was loved by all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jacob, her parents, her sisters Louise H. Matthews, Elna Hammett, and Helen H. Cullen, her brothers Harold Hammett, Wilbur Hammett, Earl Hammett, and Robert Hammett, and a son-in-law, Ed Gannaway. She is survived by daughters Jackie Gannaway Short (Ted) of Dublin, and Eleanor Marie McDavid (Brian)of Macon; grandchildren, Craig Gannaway (Elizabeth) of Charlotte, NC, Russell Gannaway (Carran) of Newport Beach, CA, Rob Gannaway of Atlanta, Will McDavid of Charlottesville, VA, and Will Short (Lauren) of Alpharetta; great-grandsons Grayson and Charlie Gannaway, Carrington and Parke Gannaway, and Harrison Short; brother, Ted Hammett (Juanita) of Inman, SC, as well as many nieces and nephews.
The family extends their gratitude to the staffs at the Benton House, Serenity Hospice, and the Hero's Haven Hospice House at the VA Medical Center for their loving care.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons. Memorials may be made to Henry Memorial Presbyterian Church, 511 Bellevue Ave, Dublin, GA 31021, Carl Vinson VA Medical Center Hero's Haven Hospice, 1826 Veterans Blvd, Dublin, GA 31021, or to the charity of the donor's choice.
Please visit www.townsendfuneralhome.com to sign the online memorial registry.


View the online memorial for Margaret Hammett New