Margaret Harman

Margaret was born on August 16, 1927 in Norton, Virginia.

Her parents were James O’Keefe Peery, a pharmacist, and Ethel Lavelette Hurt, a registered nurse. The family moved to Dublin, Virginia in 1932, Saltville, Virginia in 1933 and Farmville, Virginia in 1943. Margaret graduated from Farmville High School in 1944. After attending Mary Washington College, she entered nursing training at the University of Virginia.

Margaret met Dr. William Arthur Cover in Gary, WVa and they married on April 18, 1949. The family lived in Big Rock, Virginia until 1954 when her husband moved his medical practice to Tazewell, Virginia. Margaret raised four sons while managing her husband’s medical practice until 1969 when her husband became director of the local health department. In 1975 and 1977 Margaret was the republican candidate for one of the seats in District 3 of the Virginia House of delegates. After the 1977 election Margaret was elected Chairman of the Tazewell County, Virginia Republican Party, a position she held until 1984. She was appointed to the State Welfare Board by Governor John Dalton in 1978.

Seven years after the death of Dr. Cover, she married Rufus A. “Bud” Harman. Margaret and Bud spent winters in Florida until 2001 which allowed them to play golf year-round.

Margaret lived in Tazewell, Virginia from 1954 until the spring of 2014, when at age 86 she drove herself to Tuscaloosa AL in order to move into an independent living facility near family. Margaret made several good friends while living in Tuscaloosa and remained in contact with her many friends in Tazewell. She loved following the stock market, political news, reading mysteries, and playing contract bridge. She was always more concerned about others than herself. She remained in good health until the last year of her life.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers James O’Keefe Peery, Jr. and John Witten Peery; her husbands, Dr. William Arthur Cover (m. 1949-1977) and Rufus Alfred Harman (m. 1984-2008); and brother-in-law Charles Philip Werner. Margaret is survived by her sister, Mary Hurt Werner, her sister-in-law Donna Andrews, her four sons, Arthur Byron Cover II (Lydia) of Aberdeen WA, Dr. James Peery Cover (Christine) of Northport AL, Dr. William Hurt Cover (Marlaine) of Arnold CA, and Jesse Reese Cover III of Williamsburg VA; five granddaughters, Mary Caroline Benson (James), Dr. Sarah Christine Cover, Dr. Charlotte Elizabeth Moy (Richard), Ari Brianna Messenger, JD (Andrew) and Alexa Cover, JD; as well as two great-grandsons (James and Matthias) and four great-grand-daughters (Austin, Ava Mae, Genevieve and Rosaria) as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Along with the rest of her family Margaret became an Episcopalian after moving to Saltville VA (where the Episcopalian priest was an old boyfriend of her mother) and she remained a member of the Episcopal Church for the rest of her life. In lieu of flowers or any other memorials, the family requests that gifts be made in her honor to Stras Memorial Episcopal Church, 245 N Central Ave, Tazewell, Va. 24651, where she worshiped for 60 years.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held Friday March 24th, 2023 at 1:00pm at Christ Episcopal Church Tuscaloosa Alabama

Sunset Brown-Service Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial Provider, is honored to serve the Harman family during their time of bereavement. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.SunsetBrown-Funeral.com