Margaret Dreher Carroll

COLUMBIA - Leila Margaret Dreher Carroll, age 90, passed away Tuesday evening, August 18, 2015, at Kathwood Agape in Columbia, South Carolina, after a short illness. She was predeceased by her husband of 60 years; Walton Douglas “Doug” Carroll, Sr. Margaret was born at Baptist Hospital, Columbia, SC, on October 21, 1924, and lived with her family in the Elmwood area during childhood. She was the third of four children born to the late Yancey Butler and Frances Clifton Thornton Dreher. Predeceasing her were brother, Yancey Butler Dreher, Jr.; sisters, Addie Frances “Tut” Dreher, and Betty Joe Dreher Tucker, her husband, Charles Herbert Tucker; brother-in-law, John Mayon Carroll, Jr., his wife, Margaret Fickling Carroll; and sister-in-law, Mildred “Millie” Carroll Hart. As a child, Margaret was baptized in and an active member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. She attended Columbia public schools, beginning with Logan, right across the street from her home, Taylor, and Wardlaw Junior High. She graduated from Old Columbia High School when it was located where First Baptist Church is now. After graduation, Margaret entered the working world, with her favorite job at Dunn and Bradstreet, staying until she married the love of her life on September 9, 1944. Doug was a B-17 pilot in the U.S. Air Force, and she a war bride. They lived in several cities until his discharge. Returning to Columbia, she moved her church membership to Ebenezer Lutheran church, Doug's family’s church, where they reared their three children, actively participated, and remained members until death. Margaret was a perfect fit as the Cradle Roll Visitor for fifty years, visiting and guiding new mothers in early Christian education of their babies, helping with Luther League, and teaching Sunday School. Margaret dedicated her life to being a good mother and wife. Her family was her joy! She was an excellent cook and believed in three healthy meals a day, cooked from scratch! Surviving are her three devoted children, Walton Douglas Carroll, Jr. (Jerolyn Bruce Long), Margaret “Peggy” Dreher Carroll Wilkinson (Jerry Franklin Wilkinson) and Frances Virginia Carroll Coleman (Curtis Everett Coleman, Jr.). Her grandchildren dearly loved their “Amma.” They are Emily Christine Carroll Holzman (Martin Walter Holzman), Walton Douglas “Doug” Carroll, III (Virginia “Ginna”), Ann Ewaldsen, Curtis Everett “Rett” Coleman, III (Jessie Marzie Abney Coleman), Samuel Franklin Wilkinson and Richard Austin Coleman (Michelle Sternes Krause, fiancée). The four great-grandchildren are John Walter Holzman, Raleigh William Holzman, Mary Margaret Carroll, and Virginia Corinne Carroll. Also surviving are her sister-in-law, Rosalie Bodie Dreher; brother-in-law, Edward Daniel “Ned” Hart; and numerous nieces and nephews. Special thanks go to caregiver Ida Armour from Forest Pines, nurses at Agape Hospice, and those special individuals at Kathwood who brought comfort to Margaret during her last few days. Funeral Services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 22, 2015, at Ebenezer Lutheran Church. Burial will be private. The family will receive friends Friday, August 21 from 5 until 7 p.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel. Memorials may be made to Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 1301 Richland Street, Columbia, S.C., 29201 or Agape Community Hospice, 3096 Sunset Blvd., West Columbia, SC 29169.