Franklinton, NC -- Margaret Olivia Woodlief Ragan, 97, of Franklinton, entered Heavenly rest on Saturday afternoon, May 17, 2025.
Margaret was the daughter of the late Otis Alton Woodlief and Mable Vann Brown Woodlief. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Thomas "Milton" Ragan, Sr.
Margaret was a 1947 Graduate of Hardbarger's Women's College and upon graduation she joined the Carolina Buick Company in Raleigh as a bookkeeper. Margaret and Milton were married on April 18, 1953, at the United Methodist Church in Franklinton. They lived in Raleigh at New Bern Avenue and Fayetteville Street area.
In 1960, following the passing of her father, Margaret left her position at Carolina Buick Company and returned to Franklinton to continue running the family's general store, which had been a cornerstone of the community since the 1950s. Renaming it M&M Grocery, it was a place where neighbors gathered to talk, shop, and share in life's moments. For over a decade, she took immense pride in serving the community until she began working at the Franklinton Savings and Loan in 1973. When the Savings and Loan merged with Raleigh Federal in the 1980s, Margaret moved to the Louisburg branch, where she worked until her retirement in 1990.
Margaret was involved in her community, supporting events and initiatives that brought people together. She stood by Milton and other local families when they established the local rescue squad in the late 1960s. In 1974, she and Milton earned their Emergency Medical Technician Certification, showing their commitment to the well-being of others. She and Milton were active members of Union View Baptist Church for 50 years where she taught the young ladies Sunday School Class, was the assistant pianist, worked as the church financial secretary and was an active member of the adult choir. Margaret and Milton joined Oak Level Church around 2005 where they continued to serve in the church until Milton's passing in 2011.
Margaret's zest for life was clear in the many adventures she pursued. In the 1980s, she took part in missionary training at the local seminary alongside members of her church. At age 75, she embraced the thrill of driving a go-kart at the beach's racetrack, proving that life's simple joys are always worth chasing. In their 70s, Margaret and Milton became Census takers, traveling around the county to collect vital data, furthering their dedication to public service. In their 80s, they enjoyed contributing to their community by working local elections and polls. Never one to stop learning, in their early 80's Margaret and Milton even took on the challenge of learning conversational Spanish, a testament to their enduring curiosity and love for life.
Margaret also had a special gift for making people feel at home with her wonderful cooking. Her raspberry tea and lemon pound cake were family favorites, and countless meals came together effortlessly at her fingertips. Every Christmas, she created a holiday goodie table that looked like a gourmet candy shop, a display of sweet treats that brought joy to everyone who entered her doors. Her kitchen was a place of warmth, laughter, and many card games that will be fondly remembered.
Her life was one of dedication, kindness, and an enduring passion for service. Margaret's legacy of kindness, resilience, and unwavering love will live on in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know her.
Margaret is survived by her daughter, Olivia Kinton (Mike) of Franklinton; son Tommy Ragan of Rolesville; grandson Jason Wheeler and wife Joyce, of Long Island, NY; great-grandson Ian Wheeler; great-granddaughter Danielle Wheeler; her niece, several cousins and many close friends.
A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 2 p.m. at Oak Level Christian Church in Youngsville. The family will receive friends from 1 - 1:45 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will follow the service at Fairview Cemetery in Franklinton.
The family would like to give a sincere thank you to all the caregivers that shared the joy of being around Margaret. A special thank you to Ann and Peggy, who have been with her for the last 2 years. Also, thank you to Dr. Amy Shipley of Rex/UNC Healthcare who took great care of Margaret. And last, but not least, thank you to Janet West for being her hairdresser for many many years.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.
American Cancer Fund
PO Box 7262
Hillsborough, NJ 08844-7262
Donations may also be made online at americancancerfund.org
Be sure to include the name of the person you are making the donation in; for example: "This memorial is for John Smith. Please send the acknowledgment to Mary Smith and Family."
Arrangements are by Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, Louisburg. www.stricklandfuneralhome.net
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