Margaret Mason Love

Margaret "Maggie" Mason Love, 79, passed away peacefully and unexpectedly in her sleep on April 28, 2023. She was born March 26, 1944, in Newberry, S.C., the daughter of her late parents, William Allen Mason, Jr. and Nellie Freeman Fouche. She was a 1962 graduate of Newberry High School, briefly attended The University of South Carolina, and graduated in 1970 from Vanderbilt Peabody College in Nashville, TN.

Maggie was widowed twice, and preceded in death by beloved husbands, Timothy Hicks in 1977, and Thomas Love in 2019, as well as her great-granddaughter, Maya Foster in 2014. She is survived by her handsomest brother, William "Bill" Mason II (Jane); her daughter, Christine Gill (Tonia Brown); and granddaughters, Brittanie Saxon and Jessica Ortega (Pablo).

Grandma Maggie's surviving great-grandchildren are Antwain Saxon, Luis Ortega-Rocha, Rosanna Ortega-Rocha, and Isabelle Ortega-Rocha. Nieces and nephews include Derrick Mason (Shannan) of Cartersville, GA; Elisa Ruopoli (Michael) of Charleston, SC; and Patrick Mason (Amy) of Pace, FL and their families.

Maggie adored the extended Love family and was unspeakably grateful for the blessings of their continued love and support. She loved her honorary little brother, Phil Rice, and was blessed with the long and wonderful friendships of Helen Jameson and Ann Bowers.

Maggie was known for her compassion and wit, never meeting a stranger, and laughing with her whole heart. She gave excellent hugs. She would choose with intention to dance as if no one was watching, simply for the joy of it, and despite the pain she would feel later. She considered so many as extended family, beautifully demonstrated unconditional love, and was a source of endless encouragement and support for numerous people.

Maggie worked hard to keep her heart young and open to new ideas and ways of looking at the world. She had strong opinions, but was always open to listen to a different point of view and build bridges of respect between differences. She loved a good joke, a well-written verse, and her favorite color was tie-dye. She believed that small acts of kindness could change the world, and many of us believe her kindness did indeed change our world. She was one of a kind, and she will be deeply missed.

A graveside service will be held at 2pm on May 20, 2023 at Hermitage Memorial Gardens, 535 Shute Lane, Old Hickory, TN 37138. An informal celebration of Maggie's life will be held immediately after at the home she shared with her girls, Chris and Tonia.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of the below organizations: Big Fluffy Dog Rescue, P.O. Box 160485, Nashville, TN 37216 or The Elephant Sanctuary, PO Box 393 Hohenwald, TN 38462.

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