Margaret Stuart Dickey Davies

DAVIES Margaret Stuart Dickey Davies, age 91, died on October 19, 2012 at Canon Hospice. She is survived by two daughters, Eugenia Dickey Caldwell of San Francisco, and Pauline Eakin Dickey of New Orleans. Mrs. Davies was predeceased by three husbands: Lt. David Newbold to whom she was married two years and who died in 1944, Kenneth Hall Dickey to whom she was married 58 years and who died in 2005, and Rev. David B. Davies to whom she was married three years and who died in 2010. She was the third daughter of Pauline Eakin and Stuart Wilson of Texarkana, AR. A graduate of Sweet Briar College, VA, she served three terms on its Alumnae Association Board of Directors. She attended graduate school at the University of Denver, CO. Mrs. Davies lived 65 years in Texarkana, AR, where she was the first woman elected to the City Council and served on the Boards of Directors of the Two States Council of Girl Scouts and the Chamber of Commerce. She founded Beauty in Texarkana (B.I.T.), a non-profit which provided for landscaping and beautification of public green space in Texarkana. In keeping with her concern for the environment and to fund B.I.T., she started a recycling center. Similar activities included Keep America Beautiful, Texarkana Bi-City Clean Community System, and Civic Service. When she determined that Texarkana needed a Boy Scouts Camp, she procured donations of several acres of land and materials, and directed the construction of Camp Carlton Kemp on the outskirts of town. She was a member and supporter of the Texarkana Y.W.C.A, the Battered Women's Shelter, May Dale Garden Club, and the Texarkana Historical Society and Museum where a rose garden was dedicated in her honor. February 20, 1986 was declared "Margaret S. Dickey Day" by both Texarkana, AR, and Texarkana, TX, city governments. Mrs. Davies was praised for "her deep interest in stimulating citywide concern, planning, clean-up and beautification projects" which garnered state and national awards. She was recognized by the Junior League of Texarkana as Outstanding Member and by the Chamber of Commerce as Outstanding Citizen. Mrs. Davies held a life-long devotion to the Presbyterian Church, serving as Ruling Elder and President of Women of the Church of both First Presbyterian Church, Texarkana, AR, and St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, New Orleans. Following the Vietnamese Conflict, through her church in Texarkana, she worked tirelessly to sponsor 27 Vietnamese refugees and their families by helping to provide for their housing and employment, language and skills training, citizenship education, schooling and health needs, and religious affiliation. A world traveler and an avid gardener, Mrs. Davies was a member of the Orleans Club and Le Petit Salon, and a sustaining member of the Junior League of New Orleans. She and her second husband, Kenneth Dickey, moved to New Orleans in 1986 to be near their two daughters. After she was widowed, she married Rev. Davies and moved to his home on Petit Jean Mountain, AR. After his death, she returned to New Orleans. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, October 24, at St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1545 State St. Visitation will be at 2pm followed by the service at 3pm. Following the service, a reception will be held at 1535 State St. A second memorial service and interment in the family plot will follow at a later date in Texarkana, AR. The family has requested no flowers. Memorials may be made to St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, New Orleans; First Presbyterian Church, Texarkana, AR; Sweet Briar College, VA; or to the charity of one's choice.