Margaret Ann Costen

Margaret Ann Smith Costen, better known as Peggy to her friends and “Mom” to so many others, passed quietly in her sleep early Saturday morning the 16th of September. Mom was born October 29th, 1937 in Baltimore and grew up in Catonsville. Her parents were Dr. Dietrich Conrad Smith III and Margaret Odell Todd Smith, and her brother, DCS IV or Dirk, who all predeceased her. She is survived by two sons, James William Costen and Todd Buie Costen, as well as three grandsons- William Alexander Costen, Aaron Morgan, and Cullen Buie Costen. Along with her nephews, DCS V (or Chuck) and Todd Smith, both living in California and grew up in Hawaii.

Peggy came to North Carolina to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1954, she was one of the first women accepted full time as a freshman. She met her husband and father of four children, Thomas “Buie” Costen, at UNC and married in Pittsboro on January 28th, 1961. Their first born, Jim, was born in Chapel Hill on September 24th, 1961 and after Buie passed the Bar they moved to Raleigh where Todd was born July 13th, 1968.

Peggy worked for Southern National Bank until her mother’s passing in 1988. She enjoyed travelling after her retirement, listening to books on tape from The Library for the Blind, watching her favorite TV shows, and talking weekly to her nephew Todd.

We will be holding a “Celebration of Life” instead of a funeral. It will be held at her home on October 28th and any there at midnight will raise their glass to her 86th birthday. If you are unable to attend you may still raise a glass at midnight with us!

In lieu of flowers, we suggest donations to the Library for the Blind, or any charity of your choice in her name.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared below within "add a memory" for the Costen Family.