Margaret Elizabeth Arnold

Margaret Elizabeth Arnold, born January 4, 1936 in Knoxville, Tennessee to Elizabeth and Harold Bailey, went to spend eternity with the Lord November 21, 2025 at 1:53 am.

Her early years were marked with challenges including segregation which she handled with dignity and grace. She successfully attended and graduated from Austin High School and Knoxville Business College. In 1956, Margaret married Alton Arnold with whom the Arnold Bunch came to be. Although her life, including a 30-year career at GMC and post-retirement position with Rothchild’s Catering and Events, came with many achievements, she would share that her most valued achievements would be the decision to receive Christ as her Lord and Savior and the blessing of being a mother. Margaret was a loving devoted mother to her five natural-born children as well as many others whom she adopted as her own as she shared the love of Christ in many ways including simply being a loving, listening ear and offering a seat at her table. She received Christ as her Lord and Savior at a young age and attended Mattie E. Coleman CME Church in Knoxville. Years later, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church became her church home for decades before she moved to West Knoxville and began attending West Hills Baptist Church where she remained for over a decade. As an involved member of West Hills, she avidly served as a volunteer with the FISH Pantry. Throughout her time with the FISH ministry, she oversaw donations, packaged items for delivery, scheduled deliveries, and at times personally made deliveries. Not only did Margaret serve in FISH, she also trained up others including her grandchildren who would help her at times, instilling in them a bit of her heart to serve others. Late in life she became a member of New Providence Baptist Church in Loudon where she participated in Sunday school and the women’s ministry activities until no long able due to progressed illness. Margaret’s heart desire was to have all five of her children have a personal relationship with the Lord; she was blessed to live to see this prayer answered. Trusting and praising the Lord at all times was her way of life; she would encourage it to also be your way of life.

Margaret’s parents Elizabeth and Harold Bailey; husband, Alton Arnold; son, Aaron Arnold; sister, Nellie Drinkard; brother, Emory Bailey; and grandson, Caswell Arnold preceded her in death. In addition to her children Alta Arnold, Antonio Arnold (Yvette), Betty Arnold, and Gregory Arnold (Sharon); grandchildren Vondi Hardeman, Irwin Arnold (Kimberly), Whitney Heinze (Randy), Joshua Arnold, and Jasmine Arnold, she leaves to cherish precious memories, 10 great-grandchildren: Aaron, Joseph, Summer, Abby, Ellie, Mayah, Thea, Layana, Jonathan, and Judah; as well as, brothers: Harold Bailey (Bernicestine), Emanuel Bailey (Linda), and Mark Bailey (Barbara) and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends.

A woman full of love and grace, endearingly known as Margaret, Mom, Margie, and Grannis, lived a life imprinting upon hearts a legacy of loving well! She will be missed dearly!

Receiving of friends and family will take place at Berry Highland Memorial Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, starting at 5:00 pm. The funeral service will follow at 7:00 pm. A graveside service is scheduled for Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at 11:00 am at Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery.