Margaret Elizabeth Merritt Alexander, 74, of Milledgeville, Tennessee, departed this life on Saturday, Sept. 21, in Corinth, Mississippi. She was born on Jan. 11, 1950, in Harrisburg, Arkansas, the daughter of the late Joseph Douglas and Lucy Elizabeth Coons Merritt.
On Oct. 31, 1969, she was united in marriage to Leland Warren Alexander, who preceded his wife in death on April 27, 2024.
Early in her life, Margie spent countless years working as a caregiver for many children that came into her home. Loving each one, as her own, until their parents came to pick them up at the end of the day. She would move to Milledgeville, Tennessee and become very involved in her community. Margie became a training officer for Milledgeville Fire Department, an Emergency Medical Responder and EMR Board Secretary, and the town recorder for the City of Milledgeville. She was a member of Milledgeville Community Church, where she also served as treasurer. As a part of the Milledgeville Fire Department, she worked relentlessly on grants to help the fire department receive equipment that they needed to take care of the community that she dearly loved. Margie would play Mrs. Claus every Christmas for the community and church, alongside her husband Leland, who played Santa.
Margie worked tirelessly loving and caring for her family, her church, and her community. She gave to anyone who needed and always thought of others before herself. She was constantly working behind the scenes to support her husband, Leland, as the Mayor and Fire Chief, and she accomplished many things for her community that many people will never know. She deeply loved her sisters and brothers, daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren. Margie loved with a love that can never be replaced or duplicated and she will be incredibly missed every single day.
She is survived by her daughter, Melissa Fischer and her husband Scott of Oakland, Tennessee; brothers, John Merritt of Wynne, Arkansas, Donnie Merritt of Harrisburg, Arkansas, and Douglas Merritt of Jonesboro, Arkansas; sister, Rose Brown of Harrisburg, Arkansas; and grandchildren, Ella Fischer and Elias Fischer.
In addition to her parents and husband, Margie was preceded in death by her brothers, Jimmy Douglas Merritt and Dewayne Merritt; and sisters, Joann Roberts, Mae Morgan, Sarah June Merritt, Gladys Streur, Jackie Berryhill, Joey Harvey, and Teresa Pitts.
Memorial services were held on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at Milledgeville Community Church in Milledgeville, Tennessee, with Robert Conder and Jimmy Dyer officiating. Burial followed at Milledgeville Cemetery in Milledgeville, Tennessee.