Margaret Kerr

Margaret Harrison Kerr, 90, of Savannah, Tennessee, loving wife and devoted mother, departed this life to her heavenly place on May 22, 2008. She was born in Big Ivy community of Savannah, Tennessee on March 8, 1918 to Harce and Margaret Pearl Franks Harrison. She graduated from Savannah Central High School in 1937 as the "Most Likely to Succeed" and married Hubert Finley Kerr on July 2, 1937.



"Miss Margaret", or Ma as she was called by her family, was known throughout her life as "The Hat Lady" as she wore a beautiful hat every Sunday to church and to all special occasions. Her hat collection numbers over one hundred and has been featured in many newspaper articles and in national publications, including Country Woman magazine.



She started a serious writing career at the age of 60, writing not only books of her life and books of poetry but also nationally published song lyrics. As a nationally acclaimed award-winning author, she achieved the distinction of Poet Laureate and is the former president of the Memphis Chapter of the League of the American Pen Women. In 1994, she was designated as Outstanding Poet in the Poet Anthology, sponsored by the National Library of Poetry. She was published in several anthologies and received numerous certificates of merit for her work with The American Song Festival. Her books include Laurels of Big Ivy, Southern Childhood Passages, Recollections & Reflections and her recorded songs include "Peanut Prance" which appeared on the flip side of Rick Dees' "Disco Duck" and "Lisa, You are my Darling," which she wrote the day Elvis died.



She was an acitve and faithful member of First United Methodist Church of Savannah, Tennessee for over 70 years and was a member of the Faith Bible Study. Her dedication to her church and religious faith has proven to be a source of inspiration to many, as well as giving her the strength to survive cancer for more than 45 years.



Margaret was named by the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce as their Woman of the Year in 2000. Her other accomplishments include being the first person from Hardin County to win a trip to the National 4-H Congress (Chicago - 1936), being named an honorary member of the Savannah Rotary Club in 1996 and having a lifetime membership in the Savannah Girl Scouts and PTA organization.



She founded the Savannah Florist in 1950 and used her creative talents in the Hardin County area for many years providing beautiful flowers to countless numbers of life celebrations and teaching the art of floral arranging and interior design to many women.



Margaret gave unselfishly of her time to many people and many philanthropic endeavors in the Hardin County area. She served as the Chairperson of the annual Hardin County Make-A-Difference Day for many years, was a board member of the Hardin County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, a member of the Savannah Garden Club, the Hardin County Historical Society, and the Chairman of Hardin County Farm Bureau Women, and enjoyed being the Queen Mother of the Peacock Plumes, a Savannah Chapter of the National Red Hat Society.



She is predeceased in life by her beloved husband of 64 years, Hubert Finley Kerr, and leaves her son Jim Kerr of Savannah, Tennessee (formerly of Memphis, Tennessee) and wife Becky; two daughters; Pat Kerr Tigrett of Memphis, Tennessee and Jana Kerr Pettey of Memphis, Tennessee, and husband John; four grandchildren: Steven Kerr of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina and wife Mary Gordon, Kerr Tigrett of Memphis, Tennessee and wife Melanie, Hillary Edwards and Holt Edwards of Memphis, Tennessee; four great-grandchildren: Harrison Kerr, Will Kerr and Molly Kerr of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina and Jacob Herter of Memphis, Tennessee; sisters Jonell Harrison Marinaro of Fort Pierce, Florida, and husband Joe, and Annette Harrison Sanderson of Birmingham, Alabama and husband Coach Wimp Sanderson; cousin Harold Dale Harrison of Savannah, Tennessee, and wife Betty; and is a proud descendant of Cherokee-Creek warrior and Indian Chief "Red Eagle" Weatherford.