Mrs. Margaret Elaine Simmons Kirk

She was born on November 2, 1944 to Pearl and Dallas Simmons of Newport, NC. She was a graduate of Newport High School and Chowan University. She was employed in the Department of Social Services in Carteret County and later in the state Division of Social Services in Carteret County and later in the state Division of Social Services as a supervisor.

Margaret, known to her many friends as Margo, was married to Phil Kirk of Raleigh in 1982. Their first two years were spent in Arlington, Virginia before they moved back to Raleigh. In addition to doing a considerable amount of entertaining in connection with Phil's jobs in state government, education, and the non-profit sector, she did much volunteer work on her own. She served as President or Co-President of PTAs at Stough, Martin, and Enloe schools seven times as she supported her daughters' education at every opportunity.

With a professional and volunteer interest in human services programs, Margaret was a member of the Wake County Department of Social Services Board, Wake County Human Services Task Force, and the initial Wake County Human Services Board. An avid supporter of North Carolina State Universicty athlethics, she also served on the North Carolina State University Club's house committee.

Margaret was an active participant at Ridge Road Baptist Church where she served for many years as a member of the Worship Enhancement Committee. She loved assisting in the decoration of the church sanctuary for special seasons.

She believed in practicing good citizenship and served for many years as an elections precinct official in Raleigh. She so hated missing working there last week, but likely not as much as the workers missed the brownies and other goodies she brought every time the polls opened. She had strong political beliefs and she loved attending all kinds of political events with her husband and friends. As an example, she wanted to keep her perfect voting record so just before entering Rex for lung cancer surgery, she voted early.

Margaret was an avid shopper, always looking for a bargain and priding herself on never buying anything that was not on sale. While she had several special female friends who shopped with her, her nephew, Jeff Smith, and daughter, Ashlee, were her special shopping companions.

Certainly she was a caring person and a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and aunt. Known by her grandchildren as Mar-Mar, she especially loved making and doing special things with her six grandchildren. Perhaps a good way to describe her is that she was "best friend" to many people. She had a special knack of making everyone feel extra special and extra needed. She truly loved and spent much time with the family dogs, Roxy and Kyli.

Margaret is survived by her husband, Phil; four daughters, Ashlee and Allison of Raleigh; Angela (Toby) Prenoveau of Apex, and Wendi (Jeremy) Hamilton of Panama City Beach, Florida; sisters, Florida (Ira) Smith of New Bern and Brenda (Earl) Smith of Morehead City; brother, George Simmons of Clayton; grandchildren, Madison, Bree and Zane Hamilton and Cole, Katelyn and Alexis Prenoveau; and numerous loving aunts, nephews, nieces, and cousins.

Funeral services will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Ridge Road Baptist Church in Raleigh. Visitation will follow in the fellowship hall. Memorials may be sent to Ridge Road Baptist Church, 2011 Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27607; The (Jimmy) V Foundation for Cancer Research, 106 Towerview Court, Cary, NC 27513 or the charity of donor's choice. Flowers are also welcomed.

Members of the family want to extend a special thanks to the excellent and caring medical staff, nursing staff, social workers, and all others who were involved with her treatment and hospitalization at UNC Rex Cancer Center.

Condolences to the family may be sent to www.brownwynne.com.