Margaret Hodges McLain

Margaret Hodges McLain, age 91, of Birmingham, Alabama passed away on April 27, 2018. Raised in Ashville, Alabama, she is preceded in death by her parents, George and Burnette Hodges and her husband, William Glenn McLain; her sisters, Nell Hodges Duquette, Sally Hodges DuBois, and Elizabeth Hodges Holliman. She is survived by her daughter, Meg McLain Hightower (Price); grandchildren, Will and Maggie Hightower; sisters, Chita Hodges Johnson (Tommy) of Germantown, TN and Pat Hodges Canada of Mobile; sister in law Frances McLain and a host of loving nieces and nephews.

As one of 6 sisters known as “The Hodges Girls”, growing up in Ashville shaped Margaret’s life. Her family has been a part of St. Clair County for over two centuries. She graduated from Alabama College for Women (Montevallo) and met her husband, Glenn, there when Montevallo opened its doors to men for a brief period after World War II. While at Montevallo she was in multiple honor societies, a college favorite and class beauty each year, on the student senate, and president of her class.

She worked in St. Clair County first as a social worker and then as an elementary school teacher. She obtained her Masters in Education at the University of Alabama. She served as president of the Talladega County and St. Clair County Teachers Association and as officer on various state AEA committees and NEA committees and several teacher honorary organizations.

She taught elementary school in Talladega, Pell City and Ashville for 15 years. In 1959, she was a state finalist for the State of Alabama Teacher of the Year awarded by the Birmingham Post-Herald.

She continued to be involved in instruction throughout her life teaching young women’s Sunday school at McElwain Baptist Church, participating in literacy programs, serving as Vice President of the PTA and coordinating various church projects. Her passions included reading voraciously, collecting antiques and traveling with her husband.

However, her biggest passion was her family. Margaret devoted her life to serving her large extended family and taking care of each of them in whatever they needed. Her house was home base for many family gatherings and dinners. She tirelessly served her husband, daughter, sisters and myriad of nieces and nephews. In later years the same commitment was to her two grandchildren.

Her example of service to family was unparalleled and her legacy of Christian living will carry on in generations to follow.

The family would like to thank the caregivers that served her at home and at St. Martins in the Pines and and also a very special heartfelt appreciation to family friend, Benita Fay.

Private burial will be at Ashville Cemetery. Family will receive friends Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at McElwain Baptist Church at 1:30. Memorial service will immediately follow at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be mailed to Robert Dodd for The Ashville Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund, P.O. Box 54, Ashville, AL 35953 or to Loving Touch Ministry, McElwain Baptist Church,4445 Montevallo Road, B’ham, AL 35213.