Margaret Nan Lakin Whittemore

MARGARET LAKIN WHITTEMORE, a lifelong resident of Atlanta died of natural causes on Monday, July 28, 2014 at her home in Buckhead. She was 84. Ms. Whittemore was preceded in death by her son, Donald (Don) Lyon Whittemore, III in 1985. Margaret is survived by two daughters, Anne (Bibi) Lane Whittemore of Bozeman, MT and Elizabeth (Libby) Hunt Whittemore of Atlanta; also cousins Mrs. Lane Whitman Bergstrom of Pinehurst, NC and Mrs. Judy Lakin Pellam of Murrieta, CA.

In Atlanta, Ms. Whittemore attended E. Rivers Elementary School and Washington Seminary High School. In 1950 she graduated with honors from Mount Vernon College for Women in Washington, D.C. with an Associate Arts Degree in Communications.

Margaret began her professional career in the Public Relations Department of WAGA, Channel 5, in their Doraville Studio. She was an executive secretary at Jova/Daniels/Busy, Inc., the noted architectural firm credited with the creation of Colony Square. Ms. Whittemore served as Executive Director of the Atlanta Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Her varied career branched in a new direction when she became Manager of Special Events and Volunteer Services at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. Before Margaret retired in 1996, she served as Assistant to the Dean of the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Philip.

Ms. Whittemore also worked in fulltime volunteer positions for The American Red Cross and the Atlanta Parks and Recreation Department. In 1985, while working for then commissioner Carolyn Hatcher Margaret helped to create Trees Atlanta, Inc. This vital, nationally recognized and award-winning program has continually grown to become one of Atlanta’s most widely known not-for-profit community service organizations.

In 1984, Margaret was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Community Service Award from the Atlanta Journal Constitution. In 1985 she received the Phoenix Award from the City of Atlanta from then mayor, Andrew Young. And it was through her lifelong dedication to volunteer service the Ms. Whittemore found her true passion and greatest achievement.

Throughout her life, Ms. Whittemore was dedicated to community, city, historical and artistic endeavors that would enhance and reaffirm her love and belief in the beauty and power of Atlanta for future generations. Her fulltime volunteer service to Atlanta is truly exemplary, and her unceasing efforts included volunteer work for the American Red Cross, the Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation and the Atlanta History Center. Margaret served on the boards of Trees Atlanta, Inc., the Georgia Association of Volunteer Administration and the Odyssey Family Counseling Center. She was a founding member of the Cottage Garden Club and served in the Junior League of Atlanta VIPS Group, the Buckhead Girls and the Members Guild of the Atlanta Historical Society.

With her trademark, enormous glasses firmly in place, Margaret Whittemore kept her giant eyes on her city and watched with amazement at the changes that occurred during her lifetime in Atlanta. Some she celebrated; other changes were not so popular. A devoted arts champion, Margaret always referred to the Woodruff Arts Center by its original name, the Memorial Arts Center, and patiently explained the significance of the name to the uninformed. “That complex was built on the deaths of 106 people, some of them dear friends, and we can never forget.” And Margaret never did.

Funeral services for Margaret Lakin Whittemore will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, August 5, 2014 at the Cathedral of St. Philip where she was a member of the St. Elizabeth’s Guild. The church is located at 2744 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta, Ga. Interment will be in the Memorial Garden of the Cathedral immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions may be made to Trees Atlanta, Inc. or the Atlanta Historical Society.