Margaret Lanham

Dr. Margaret Merryman Lanham, 98, died peacefully on Monday, June 2, 2014, at the home of her niece in Emory, VA. Born on July 8, 1915 in Spartanburg, SC, Dr. Lanham was the daughter of Samuel Tucker Lanham and Edith Campbell Crane Lanham. She had a great and life-long love of learning, earning an English degree at Converse College, and Master's and PhD at Vanderbilt University. She also had a great love of teaching, joining the staff at Averett University in 1943, and retiring in 1978. Following her retirement, she decided to take courses in Religion and earned a degree from Averett as well. Thirty of those retirement years were spent happily on Mulberry Road with beloved friend Pauline Coll and their various cats, enjoying friends, books and membership at Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. She moved to Emory in 2008 to live out her last years with family. She was a member of Emory United Methodist Church and enjoyed weekly visits from various church members. She also enjoyed cards, letters, stamps, phone calls and visits from Danville friends, colleagues and former students. Dr. Lanham was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Louisa Lanham Spell, and several close friends. She is survived by her niece, Edie Spell Bobko (Ron) of the home; two nephews, Charles Raymond "Rick" Spell (Gail) of Morristown, TN, and David Merryman Spell (Linda) of Bristol, VA; a great niece; eight great nephews; one great-great nephew; a cousin, Dr. Wendell "Wink" Tiller (Martha) of Spartanburg, SC; and many wonderful friends. A graveside service will be held on Friday, June 6, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. at the Mountain View Cemetery in Danville, VA with the Reverend Barry Foster officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Mount Vernon United Methodist Church or to the Pauline Coll Scholarship Fund at Averett University.