Margaret Elizabeth Williams Harris

Margaret Elizabeth Williams Harris “Mamaw,” 97, of Dobson, NC, entered the gates of heaven and gained her angel wings on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. Born on December 3, 1927, Margaret dedicated her life to creating a loving and nurturing home for her husband of 64 years, Joe (deceased), their four children, and later in life, her granddaughter, Stacey.

Margaret was born in Gary, West Virginia, to Mary Pearl and James Madison Williams (both deceased). She was the youngest of eleven children. She grew up in the coal-mining town of rural West Virginia until her father passed away at an early age, leaving her mother to care for the remaining children at home. She moved frequently as a child, living in New York City during the Great Depression. As a teenager, she moved to Lowgap and later to Mount Airy, where she met the love of her life. Joe and Margaret were married on June 7, 1944, and quickly began raising their family. Margaret was a talented homemaker; from cooking to sewing, there seemed to be nothing she couldn’t accomplish to make a loving home for her family. Later in life, she worked part-time outside the home as a nurse’s aide in the physical therapy department at Northern Surry Hospital and at Eckerd’s Pharmacy. She was a member of Salem United Methodist Church for many years, where she was an active Sunday School teacher, youth leader, and kindergarten Bible School leader. She loved being around children and teaching them to love God. Her faith was strong, and she always believed that “God has a plan and a reason for everything in life.” She loved watching birds from her back porch while sitting in her rocking chair and enjoyed telling stories to everyone she would meet.

Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Scott Harris; two sons, Richard Eric Harris and Ronald Scott Harris; seven sisters, Louise, Kate, Cecil, Mable, Ruby, and Neil; two brothers, Buford and Jim; sister-in-law, Virginia Kirkman; and brother-in-law, Mitchell Harris.

She is survived by two daughters-in-law, Charmaine Harris (Ronald’s wife) and Bonnye Harris (Richard’s wife); one daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Mike Hunt; one son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Brenda Harris; grandchildren, Stacey Harris (Mike), Danielle and Kenny Smith, Robin and Randell Hodges, Lynn Irwin (Dave), Joseph Harris, Tracey and Rhonda Harris; great-grandchildren, Madelyne Street, Abigail Pulliam, Scotty Pulliam, Colten Hodges, Cameron and Sheridan Hodges, Jamie Hodges, Olando Hodges, Lucas Hodges, Dustin and Jen Harris, Kayla and Tyler Taylor, Ashley Harris, Chad and Amanda Harris, Mariah Harris, Tara Turman, and Todd Turman; six great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins too many to list.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Salem Fellowship Church on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at 2 p.m. The family will have a private burial. The family would like to offer their sincerest gratitude and thankfulness to Charmaine Harris (daughter-in-law); sitters Francis Billings, Carlene Daniels, and Marty Hodges; and Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care for their round-the-clock care of Margaret over the past couple of years. Their love and care helped Margaret enjoy the quality of life she deserved after spending her entire life taking care of others. 

Moody Funeral Services in Mount Airy is serving the family.