Marguerite Harris Waters

Marguerite Harris Waters was born on October 20, 1912 in Macon, North Carolina. She died peacefully on Friday, August 9, 2013 at Friends Homes West, Greensboro, N.C. She lived in Greensboro for over 75 years, the last 18 of which she was an active resident of Friends Homes West.

After graduating from Macon High School, Mrs. Waters attended Elon University, graduating in 1934. There she met and married a fellow Elon graduate, Norman (Muddy) Brown Waters, on September 7, 1935. They were happily married for 50 years until his death in 1985. Mrs. Waters taught English and drama at Bessemer High School for seven years. An editorial (circa 1957) in the Greensboro Daily News referred to her as one of the best amateur actresses of her time.

She left teaching to rear her two daughters, Ann Waters Jones and Jean Waters Frye. Mrs. Waters was an active member of Grace United Methodist Church for more than 65 years and a founding member of Sedgefield Woman’s Club where she was named “Woman of the Year” in 1985. She was a member of the Guilford County chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and in the Starmount Study Club. In 1999 at the request of Elon University she represented the class of 1934 by marching in the inaugural procession for Elon’s incoming President.

Mrs. Waters was preceded in death by her parents Lula Gardner Harris and Henry Brame Harris, Jr. and her brother Thomas Gardner Harris, Sr. In addition to her devoted daughters and sons-in-law, Ann and Lucian (Skip) Jones of Wilmington, N.C., and Jean and Donald Frye of North Myrtle Beach, S.C., Mrs. Waters leaves a legacy of six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Ruth Crissman Harris of Greenville, N. C., and her family.

Graveside Services will be held on Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. at Guilford Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 12 noon till 1:00 p.m. at Hanes Lineberry Sedgefield Chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Friends Homes West Employee Fund, Friends Homes West, 6100 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27410.