Mrs. Margaret Nixon Perkins, age 91, of Carrollton, Georgia, passed away on Monday, January 22, 2024. She was born in Mt. Zion, Georgia, on March 8, 1932, the daughter of the late Wiley Dewey Nixon and Ernestine Cook Nixon.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Cliff (Ellen) Perkins; her daughter, Ann-Margaret Perkins; grandchildren, Jason (April) Perkins, Derek (Danielle) Perkins, and Crystal Perkins; great-grandchildren, Alex Perkins, Chloe Perkins, and Samantha Perkins. Mrs. Perkins also leaves behind a special friend, Newman Striplin, and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford "C.C." Perkins; infant son, Wiley Morris Perkins; and sisters, Dorothy Ashmore and Jeanette Robinson.

She was born Margaret Nixon in 1932 in the middle of the Great Depression to a carpenter father and stay at home mom. Her father suffered with multiple sclerosis and died when she was nine, leaving her mother to raise three daughters by herself. They picked cotton and farmed to survive. By anyone's standards, they were poor, but thanks to a godly, hard-working mother they survived and, in the most important ways, even thrived.

As the youngest child, she was always a free spirit - a tomboy climbing trees and enjoying the outdoors. Once when some fine city friends were visiting, she wanted to impress them with her swimming pool. The pool was only a small stream in the pasture that the sisters had dammed up and was only about eighteen inches deep. She lay in the pool as her friends approached with only her head above water, giving the impression of greater depth. She made do with what she had.

After graduating from Mt. Zion High School, she attended West Georgia College and received a two-year Commercial Certificate. While in college, she set her sights on a young Marine, C.C. Perkins, just returned from the war. It didn't hurt that he had one of the few cars available. It was true love that lasted all their lives.

One of the first meals she ever cooked was his breakfast the morning after their wedding. She asked how it was. He did not realize the question was rhetorical, so he explained the shortcomings. The glass of orange juice went on his head.

Her first job was secretary at the Georgia Extension Service, which she had to leave when she became pregnant. After her son was born, she went to work at Southwire when it was still a relatively small company. There she was mentored by Margaret Samples Braswell, a strong woman who was ahead of her time in the world of business and who Roy Richards, Sr. credited with running Richards & Associates while he was in service during WWII. Mrs. Braswell taught her student good business skills and instilled confidence in Margaret that women were capable of anything men were.

Once her husband got his law degree, Margaret worked in his law office as receptionist, secretary, accountant, public relations person - everything except lawyer. In the early days she held all those titles because there was no money to pay anyone else. In later years it was because of her unparalled competence. Sparks often flew between the fiery Marine lawyer and the fiery Scott-Irish lass, but as they say: "Iron sharpens iron." Their work together complimented the best aspects of each of them.

There was one other title she held at the law office - head of the nursery. Her children were raised in the law office - one from an infant. It was the example she and her husband set at the law office that led both her son and daughter to follow in their footsteps. She continued working at the law office until she was eighty-eight years of age, and only left then because she broke her hip.

How she found time for her community after work is hard to understand, but she did. Margaret Samples Braswell recruited her to the Pilot Club of Carrollton. She was a faithful member for seventy years. She held leadership roles in the local club, state and international organization. The friendships she formed in Pilot lasted her lifetime. The good works she did through Pilot Club positively changed the lives of many in her community and beyond. Margaret was recognized for her decades of service when her local club permanently named its University of West Georgia scholarship in her honor.

Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren attended Oak Mountain Academy and during those years she supported the school not only as a parent but also on its Board of Trustees, including as Secretary and later Board Chair. She is the longest-serving member of the OMA Board of Trustees (forty years). Oak Mountain honored her with its Distinguished Service Award, Lifetime Service Award and named her the first ever Member Emerita of its Board of Trustees.

Margaret was a lifelong member of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church. Her love and dedication to the church included serving as Administrative Council Chair. This small, country church influenced her profoundly and is no doubt where she learned about having a servant's heart.

She was a loving mother, grandmother and aunt to her family and a trusted advisor to friends, teachers, club and board members and clients. What made her connection with all these people special? It must have been the combination of honesty and love. Her honesty assured you that her loving compliments were not mere flattery. Her love allowed you to hear and consider her honest advice, even though it might mean reconsidering your own opinions or your own path in life.

The family will receive friends at Almon Funeral Home on Sunday, January 28 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and on Monday, January 29 from 11 a.m. to noon.

A funeral service to celebrate Mrs. Perkins' life will be held on Monday, January 29, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church. Rev. Stephanie Hannah and Rev. Ryan Miller will officiate, and eulogies will be given by Ann-Margaret Perkins and Honorable Betty Cason. Music for the service will be provided by Cathy Gambrell and Mark Witham.

Following the service, interment will take place in Mt. Zion United Methodist Church cemetery. Serving as pallbearers are Jason Perkins, Derek Perkins, Alex Perkins, Bill Robinson, Scott Robinson, Bruce Ashmore, Ben Perkins, and Randy Perkins. Honorary pallbearers are members of the Adult Sunday School Class at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church and the Pilot Club of Carrollton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Margaret N. Perkins Endowment Fund at Oak Mountain Academy, 222 Cross Plains Road, Carrollton, Georgia 30116 or Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 591, Mt. Zion, Georgia 30150.

The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to Heaven Sent Helpers and Agape Hospice for the exceptional care they provided Mrs. Perkins.

Messages of condolences may be shared with the family online at www.almonfuneralhome.com.

Almon Funeral Home of Carrollton, Georgia, has charge of arrangements