Margaret Wright Boaz Faison

Margaret Boaz Faison, 87, passed away peacefully at home on January 16, 2025. Margaret was born in Winston-Salem, NC, to Thomas Abram Boaz and Adelaide Wright Boaz. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Walter Cowles Faison, sister Jeannette Boaz McCurnin, brother-in-law Leo Patrick McCurnin, II and brother Alan Wright Boaz. She is survived by her daughters Anne Brantley Symonds and Harriet Bain; grandchildren Porter Bain Mills (Benjamin), Thompson Bain, Hannah Symonds; great-granddaughter Thea Mills; nieces Mary McCurnin and Jeannette McCurnin and nephews Pat McCurnin, III (Dianna) and Alan Boaz, Jr.

Margaret attended college at Southwestern at Memphis before transferring to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she joined the Chi Omega Sorority. At UNC, she met the love of her life, Walter Faison, and the two were married. After completing their undergraduate degrees at the University of Louisville, they moved to Greensboro, North Carolina, where they were cherished members of the community for over 60 years. They were active members of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.

Margaret earned her master’s degree in English from UNC at Greensboro and served as business manager of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra for more than eight years, leaving a lasting impact through her leadership. Highlights of her career include integrating the symphony into the public schools and bringing national performers to play with or conduct the GSO, including Benny Goodman and Leonard Bernstein. Later, Margaret served as President of the Symphony Guild. In 2015, she won the Guild’s Barbara Cone Award, which was established “to honor individuals for distinguished service in the advancement of music in the community and the promotion of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra..”

Over the course of her career, Margaret also worked as a substitute teacher, wrote book reviews for the Greensboro Daily News, was a realtor, worked in the Development Office at Elon College, and helped revive the Greensboro Opera Co.

Margaret adored her grandchildren and enjoyed gardening, reading, playing bridge, and traveling. She was passionate about music and the arts, cherished time spent with her sister and brother-in-law in New Orleans, and always looked forward to her trips to Wrightsville Beach with her dear friends, the Golden Girls: Weezie, Claire, and Amy Lou. Margaret was known for her beautiful smile, vibrant spirit, and keen wit.

In her final years, Margaret lived with her daughters, before moving to Clare Bridge Memory Care at Brookdale Lawndale Park. In the last 6 weeks of her life, she received compassionate care from Twenika Huddleston of Caring Hands Home Healthcare and from AuthoraCare Hospice.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, March 15 in the sanctuary of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 607 North Greene Street, Greensboro.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, act.alz.org or Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 607 North Greene Street, Greensboro, NC 27401 www.holy-trinity.com

Hanes Lineberry North Elm Chapel is assisting the Faison family with arrangements. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared by visiting www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com