Margaret B. Dale

Margaret Burford Dale, 96, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 25.

Margaret was a lifelong resident of Birmingham, growing up on

Avenue "T" in Ensley Highlands with an abundance of love surrounding her

from her parents, brother and two sisters. Following a lively childhood,

she attended Howard College, East Lake Campus, riding the trolley every

day from Ensley. As this was during the depression, her father would

tell her every day: "Bring your books home tonight, Sugar, because you

don't know if you'll be going back tomorrow."

Coming from a musical family, she attempted piano during her early

years. She was never hesitant to illustrate her proficiency by pointing

out that it took her five minutes to play "The Minute Waltz." Margaret

was popular and loved by all for her sparkling personality, sense of

humor and kindness to everybody she met. Anyone whose name she didn't

know was always addressed as "darlin'," and the beauty of it was that

she meant it with all her heart. Margaret loved people with a passion,

and delighted in them all her life.

Margaret was devoted to every Methodist church she attended, and

was known for her poignant devotionals. She was buoyed by her abiding

faith, and it carried her through every travail that her life would bring.

After the war she met and married the love of her life, the very

Irish Norman Dale, and lived in New York City with him before they

returned to settle in Birmingham. While living up there, she managed to

charm the Yankees with her friendly Southern personality. She not only

introduced them to the term "redbugs," but had her butcher, Mr. Sinise,

wrapped around her finger. She always got the very best cuts of meat by

telling him, "Mr. Sinise, I'm relyin' on you, because I don't know

anything about meat."

Though she and Norman never had children of their own, she was the

favorite aunt to all her nieces and nephews, who called her "Titter"

(one nephew's early attempt to say "Sister") or "Tudda" depending on the

thickness of the pronunciation.

Margaret was office manager at UAB Student Health Services from

the University's inception until the nineties, and was constantly

praised by the students and administration for her efficiency and

cheerful attitude. Her retirement was spent reading, traveling and

laughing with her "Sustahs" and "Bubba" during cacophonous conversations

in which nobody could get a word in edgewise.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Norman Dale; her mother,

Marguerite Varner Burford; her father, Frank Burford, Sr.; and her

brother, Frank Burford, Jr.

She is survived by two sisters, Saranel Detamore Davis of

Huntsville and Dorothy Brown of Arvada, Colorado; nine nieces and

nephews and all their children.

Whether she was known as "Margaret," "Sis," "Sister (pronounced

"Sustah"), "Titter" or "Tudda," she will be sorely missed by all that

she touched during her long, wonderful life.

Gtraveside services will be held Thursday, June 27, 2013, 11:00, at

Oakland Cemetery in Ensley.