Obituary of Margaret Yancey Kirkman

CHAPEL HILL Margaret Lamar Yancey Kirkman, a resident of Chapel Hill since 1965, died peacefully at home on February 8, 2013 after a long struggle with Parkinson's Disease. Devoted wife and loving mother, she will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Margaret and her identical twin sister, Marian, were born March 8, 1926 in Atlanta, Georgia. Their mother, Margaret Inez Yancey, died when the girls were toddlers and they were raised by their father, George Yancey and by two loving aunts, Pansy Skelton and Martha Griffith. Margaret excelled academically at Girls' High School in Atlanta and at Agnes Scott College. She received a master's degree in classics from Florida State University. While working at a Campfire Girl camp in north Georgia during summers in college, Margaret met Neil Kirkman, a Georgia Tech student working at a nearby boys' camp. They married on August 25, 1950 and had been married over 62 years at the time of her death. While her four children were young Margaret was a full-time mother and active volunteer. After the family moved to Chapel Hill, she served as a volunteer at what was then N.C. Memorial Hospital and expressed her love of art history as a docent at the Ackland Art Museum. When her children got older she became an employee and then manager of the gift shop at UNC Hospital, overseeing the shop's expansion and eventual move to the "new side" of the hospital. She retired in 1991. Prior to declines in their health Margaret and Neil were wide-ranging travelers, from medical trips to newly-opened China to visits to archeological sites off the north coast of Scotland. Her favorite trips, though, were those spent dragging Neil through numerous European cathedrals. Margaret was a staunch supporter of her husband, children, and grandchildren in their academic, career, and personal pursuits. A life-long Methodist, she was a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church for 48 years and loved her church family, particularly her fellow members of the United Methodist Women. Margaret is survived by her loving husband, Henry Neil Kirkman, Jr. of Chapel Hill; her children (and their spouses) Alice Louise Kirkman of Rockville, MD, David Neil Kirkman (Debra Skinner) of Chapel Hill, Marian Sue Kirkman (John Krall) of Pittsboro, and Celia Kirkman of Chapel Hill; grandchildren Victoria Margaret Kirkman of Rockville, Evan Yancey Krall of San Francisco, CA, and Jacob Alexander Krall (Jennifer Wing Krall) of Indianapolis; a half-sister, Lu Roll of Basking Ridge, NJ; and by her beloved twin, Marian Yancey Carroll, and Marian's children and grandchildren in Atlanta: Philip Carroll (Paula, Jeanette), Margaret (Peggy) Means (Hugh, Ben, Alex) and John Carroll. The family wishes to express their thanks to the wonderful staff of The Cedars, particularly the CNA's whose dedication and care allowed Margaret to stay in her home until her death. A visitation will take place on Monday, February 11 from 6-8 p.m. at Walker's Funeral Home in Chapel Hill and a celebration of Margaret's life on Tuesday, February 12 at 1 p.m. at Aldersgate United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, Margaret would be happy to know that contributions in her name were made to Aldersgate United Church in Chapel Hill.