Margaret Rooks

Margaret Rooks

Stapleton, GA –          Margaret Rooks, 101, suddenly entered into her eternal rest Saturday morning, December 3, 2022 at Silver Linings Personal Care Home. Funeral services to celebrate her life will be held at Waldens United Methodist Church at 2:00 P.M. Saturday afternoon, December 10, 2022 with Reverend David Severance officiating.  Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

One of three children born to the late Fannie Hudson Rooks and the late George Rooks, Margaret grew up in Stapleton. After graduating high school, she moved to Macon and worked for C&S Bank as a bank auditor, retiring in the 19980’s after which she moved back to Stapleton.  While living in Macon, she was in a bowling league for many years and was known for her bowling prowess. After retiring, she was a member of the C&S Retiree Club, faithfully attending their monthly meetings in Macon.  Margaret loved being outside and was known for her vegetable garden that she personally planted and harvested.  (It has been said that she could drive a tractor as well or better than any man.) After picking the butterbeans, tomatoes, peas etc, she enjoyed shelling the butterbeans and peas, and then canning the produce from her garden.  Having a “hearty” appetite, she loved food—her favorites being home-grown tomato sandwiches, fried chicken, bread, and most everything southern, but no corn bread, cooked carrots or peas! Whenever she was in Augusta, it was a must that she eat at the S&S where she always had their carrot salad and lemon meringue pie.  Plus, she loved a good fish fry with lots of good food and lots of people.  Margaret was probably best known for making syrup peanut candy which she gave to family and friends from here to Macon.  Still driving at the age of 97, Margaret always drove big cars and it was imperative that the car have a big trunk so she could haul things. For example, she would drive to Florida and fill the trunk with oranges or to Vidalia and fill the trunk with onions; and then she would give it away to neighbors and friends. Margaret loved to watch football, Braves baseball and FOX news—she did not like Hallmark cause every movie ended the same.  Growing up and living through the depression instilled in Margaret a can-do attitude, a hard work ethic, self-resilience, self-reliance, great determination and a very independent way of life.  As a young girl, she accepted Jesus’ call and His free gift of salvation, serving Him at Waldens United Methodist Church.  She later attended Pleasant Grove Baptist Church until her health declined.  After a fall in 2018, she moved into Silver Linings Personal Care Home, where she enjoyed many friends and some great food. It is noteworthy that she held the record as being the oldest living member of the Rooks family.  Margaret had so looked forward to Saturday, the day of her journey to her Heavenly home, as she was excited to dress up and be part of “the marriage” of her great nephew, Tripp, who was her heart and joy.  Instead, she took Jesus’ hand to go home—her soul is in Heaven with Jesus but she left her heart on earth with Tripp. Even though we are saddened at the loss of this Godly, unique woman, we are assured she is now experiencing true peace, joy and love.

Margaret was also preceded in death by both her siblings, Helen Neal and Jack Rooks. Those left to cherish her memories include her great nephew, Tripp Rooks (Heather); “niece” and care giver, Tonya Wilson (Howard); nieces and nephews, Andy Rooks, Jodie Mathews, and Kay Clark; great nephew, Wesley Mathews (Karen); cousins, other extended family, and many friends.  Serving as pallbearers will Bill Hudson, Robert Jones, Barry Rooks, Tim Rooks, Keith Usry and Barrow Walden.

The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made to Waldens UMC Cemetery Fund, c/o Patricia Kitchens, 1304 Hadden Pond Rd, Avera GA 30803.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the care givers at Silver Linings.

The family will receive friends at Waldens UMC one hour prior to the funeral service Saturday afternoon, December 10th.