Margaret Lucille Blythe

December 10, 1923 - March 29, 2009
Margaret Lucille Blythe

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Margaret Cranford Blythe, 85, formerly of Brightmore of Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, died peacefully early Sunday morning, March 29, 2009 at Davis Health Care Center, Wilmington.

Mrs. Blythe was born in Rowan County, NC on December 10, 1923, the daughter of the late Murray and Sallie Morgan Cranford. Francis Earle Blythe, her husband of 50 years, preceded her in death in 1996.

Mrs. Blythe graduated from Catawba College, Salisbury, NC and taught Home Economics one year at Landis High School, Landis, NC, before finding her true calling: that of being a mother to her children. She developed numerous creative skills and had a passion for growing cactus and other succulents, keeping a meticulous greenhouse for many years. She taught herself to weave pine needle baskets and mastered the art of weaving miniature baskets. She often taught basketry classes in the Wilmington area and at several state basket conventions.

Mrs. Blythe’s most inspiring legacy, however, may not be her creativity, but instead may be her commitment to family and faith. She continually voiced her thankfulness to “the Good Lord” for her children and had membership and participation in a body of Christ all her life. When she left “this mortal coil” she knew she would be “going home” to Jesus.

Surviving Mrs. Blythe are her children: Tom Blythe and wife Maria of Selma, NC, Carol Corbin and husband Frank of Kannapolis, NC, Peggy Wilson and husband John of Weaverville, NC, Jane Excell and husband Jay of Wilmington, David Blythe and wife Mary of Chapel Hill, NC, Marshall Blythe and wife Nicole of Graham, NC; and her ten treasured grandchildren and eleven treasured great-grandchildren.

A rite of burial service will be 2:00 pm, Monday, April 13, 2009 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Wilmington, with visitation immediately following at the church in Elebash Hall. Following the visitation, Mrs. Blythe’s cremains will be interred beside her husband at Oleander Memorial Gardens at a family ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church (1219 Forest Hills Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403), Lower Cape Fear Hospice (1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401), or to a charity of choice.

Wilmington Burial and Cremation Service 1535 S. 41st Street Wilmington, NC 28403. 910.791.9099


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