She was born in Ora, SC on August 3, 1915 where her father, Dr. I.N. Kennedy was a pastor of the Ora Associate Reformed Presbyterian church. The family moved to Mooresville, NC where she lived until her graduation from high school. She graduated from Erskine College and received her Masters at the University of North Carolina. She taught school in North Carolina, South Carolina, American schools in Germany, Paris, France and Tokyo, Japan. She married Milton Young Blakely from Ora, SC where she became a member of the Ora Associate Reformed Presbyterian church. She served her church for over thirty years by singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school and playing the piano. She served on many boards locally as well as World Witness chairman for the Synodical Board of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian church She was the Erskine College Class Agent for thirty years. Erskine College honored her by bestowing upon her the "Mary Mildred Sullivan Award", an award given to an outstanding "southern lady with high Christian ideals." She had a real gift for art and studied art at Columbia University in New York. She became an accomplished china painter. She shared this gift and talent by teaching china painting at Frampton Hall Presbyterian Home in Clinton for fifteen years. Her china was exhibited at the Bowie Art Center at Erskine College. She would later donate some of her paintings and china to Erskine College. She spent her summers in Flat Rock, NC at her home at Bonclarken were she was a past President of the Home Owners Association. She was a historian and never forgot details, names or dates. She started a Kennedy "round robin" family letter over fifty years ago that went to brothers and sisters and now makes the rounds of her nieces and nephews. She has kept and preserved the genealogy of all her family, whom she loved dearly, for generations to come. She always spoke her mind, so you knew just where you stood with her. As someone at the Carlisle Nursing Center said, "We like her because she is so feisty." Indeed she was. After her retirement she moved from Laurens, SC to Due West Retirement Center where she lived in her home until her illness facilitated her moving into Carlisle Nursing Center in the Retirement Village.
She is preceded in death by her late husband, Milton Blakely, Her mother and father, Dr. Isaac Newton and Mary Emma Carlisle Kennedy, brothers, Dr. Renwick Carlisle Kennedy, Dr. William McLane Kennedy, Dr. Richard Newton Kennedy and Dr. Leon Toland Kennedy. Sisters, Gladys Mildred Hood and Emma Elizabeth Ridenhour.
She has one surviving sister, Mary Kennedy Todd, Columbia, SC and twelve nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Carlisle Nursing Center for their loving care of Margaret as well as their friendship for these past few years. As she was known to say, "Thank you! Thank you!"
Memorial contributions can be made to the Dr. I.N. Kennedy Scholarship fund at Erskine College, Due West, SC or to the Wellness Center at the Due West Retirement Center, Due West, SC.
She was born in Ora, SC on August 3, 1915 where her father, Dr. I.N. Kennedy was a pastor of the Ora Associate Reformed Presbyterian church. The family moved to Mooresville, NC where she lived until her graduation from high school. She graduated from Erskine College and received her Masters at the University of North Carolina. She taught school in North Carolina, South Carolina, American schools in Germany, Paris, France and Tokyo, Japan. She married Milton Young Blakely from Ora, SC where she became a member of the Ora Associate Reformed Presbyterian church. She served her church for over thirty years by singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school and playing the piano. She served on many boards locally as well as World Witness chairman for the Synodical Board of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian church She was the Erskine College Class Agent for thirty years. Erskine College honored her by bestowing upon her the "Mary Mildred Sullivan Award", an award given to an outstanding "southern lady with high Christian ideals." She had a real gift for art and studied art at Columbia University in New York. She became an accomplished china painter. She shared this gift and talent by teaching china painting at Frampton Hall Presbyterian Home in Clinton for fifteen years. Her china was exhibited at the Bowie Art Center at Erskine College. She would later donate some of her paintings and china to Erskine College. She spent her summers in Flat Rock, NC at her home at Bonclarken were she was a past President of the Home Owners Association. She was a historian and never forgot details, names or dates. She started a Kennedy "round robin" family letter over fifty years ago that went to brothers and sisters and now makes the rounds of her nieces and nephews. She has kept and preserved the genealogy of all her family, whom she loved dearly, for generations to come. She always spoke her mind, so you knew just where you stood with her. As someone at the Carlisle Nursing Center said, "We like her because she is so feisty." Indeed she was. After her retirement she moved from Laurens, SC to Due West Retirement Center where she lived in her home until her illness facilitated her moving into Carlisle Nursing Center in the Retirement Village.
She is preceded in death by her late husband, Milton Blakely, Her mother and father, Dr. Isaac Newton and Mary Emma Carlisle Kennedy, brothers, Dr. Renwick Carlisle Kennedy, Dr. William McLane Kennedy, Dr. Richard Newton Kennedy and Dr. Leon Toland Kennedy. Sisters, Gladys Mildred Hood and Emma Elizabeth Ridenhour.
She has one surviving sister, Mary Kennedy Todd, Columbia, SC and twelve nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Carlisle Nursing Center for their loving care of Margaret as well as their friendship for these past few years. As she was known to say, "Thank you! Thank you!"
Memorial contributions can be made to the Dr. I.N. Kennedy Scholarship fund at Erskine College, Due West, SC or to the Wellness Center at the Due West Retirement Center, Due West, SC.
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