Margaret R. Latham

Margaret Melissa Rowell Latham, 93, of Helena, Alabama, entered heaven peacefully on August 8, 2020. She is preceded in death by her husband William "Bill" Vann Latham, parents, Steiner Lewis Rowell Sr. and Amanda Etta Josey Rowell; brothers Steiner Lewis Jr., Raymond Josey, Andy Hunter, James Andrew, and Wayne; and three sisters, Mary Alice Rowell, Etta Jane Rowell House, and Virginia Irene Rowell Whitlock.

Left to cherish her memory are her son, William Ira Latham (Betsy), her daughter, Patricia "Trisha" Etta Latham Southerland (Bruce); 4 grandchildren, Dr. Natalie Melissa Latham Fulgham (Adam), William Andrew Latham, Justin Adam Harris, and Michael Wayne Southerland; 2 great-grandchildren Davis Ryne and Jackson "Jack" Rhys Fulgham; sister Sarah Rowell Thomas; sister-in-law, Ann Yates Rowell; brother-in-law Jimmy Weaver; and a multitude of loving nieces and nephews.

She lived her childhood in the Ensley and Central Park areas graduating with honors from Ensley High School in 1945. She worked at the Central Park Public Library, H.H. Robertson & Co., and retired from AmSouth Bank in 1990. She was a member of Central Park Presbyterian Church where she and Bill were the 1st couple to be married by Reverend Ernest Sommerville on April 9, 1949. Bill and Margaret lived in Central Park/Green Acres for 46 years before moving to Helena in the early 1990s.

Margaret's smile and her laughter were well-known in the family. When Margaret got tickled everybody got tickled and when she laughed, the whole world laughed with her. She loved her family more than life and was always at every dance recital, every sports game, every music performance, every event that her precious family would be participating in until she was no longer able. She loved playing games and was a strong competitor in any game she played, particularly games that tested her knowledge. Her favorite hobby was working crossword puzzles which kept her mind sharp and strong. Even though she would say she did not like to cook, she was a superb cook and always cooked extra so that her family had leftovers to take home. Margaret was loved by everyone.

Visitation will be from 10:00 - 11:00 am, August 12, 2020, at Southern Heritage Funeral Home. A short service will be held at 11:00 followed by a brief graveside service.

A mask and social distancing guidelines will be required.