Margaret “Tillie” Rutledge Marshall, 86, of Raleigh, North Carolina passed away Friday, January 4, 2019 with her family by her side. She was born in Saxe, Virginia to the late Katherine R. Rutledge and Andrew D. Rutledge.
Tillie grew up in Charlotte County, Virginia and was raised in the Presbyterian Church. She was a High School Cheerleader, a great dancer and a bowler, winning numerous awards.
A lifelong love of antiques inspired her to start her own business, beginning with “Tillie’s Treasures” at the Cameron Village Antique Mall. She later went on to open “Antiques at Five Points” with her friends and business partners and worked there for more than twenty years.
She was fortunate to spend the last eight years of her life living with her daughter, Margaret, son-in-law, Jeff, grandson, Taylor and grand-dogs, Daisy Mae and Daisy Belle.
Friends may visit with the family from 4:00pm until 7:00pm Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 1701 East Millbrook Rd, Raleigh. A graveside service will be held at 3:00pm Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at Raleigh Memorial Park, 7501 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh. Following the graveside service, friends and family are invited to a Celebration of Tillie’s Life that will be held at 3208 Kenly Court, Raleigh.
In addition to her parents, Tillie was preceded in death by her husband, Sam Keesler Marshall, Jr. and brother, Marion A. Rutledge, and step-mother, Laura T. Rutledge. She is survived by her daughter, Margaret Marshall Harkey, son-in-law, Jeffery Frank Harkey, grandson, Taylor Marshall Harkey, step-sisters, Carolyn R. Clark and Linda R. Crosby and step-brother, Andrew D. Rutledge, Jr. and numerous nieces, nephews, in-laws and cousins.
The family would like to express their appreciation to Dr. Isabella D. Bentsen of Duke Primary Care Midtown and Dr. Vern C. Juel of the Duke Neurological Disorders Clinic for their exemplary care of Tillie over the last eight years.
We would also like to thank all of the wonderful friends and family who visited, called, brought meals, decorated our Christmas tree, walked our dog, shoveled our snow and otherwise supported us in so many ways during the last month. You are simply the best.
We also greatly thank Tillie’s caregivers Sheral Hackney and Bonita Randolph who provided her around the clock care and compassion when it was needed most in these final weeks.
Memorial donations may be made to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America. www.myasthenia.org.