Margaret Johnston Douglass Hightower was born February 10, 1934 in Huntsville, Alabama. She is survived by one son, Charles David Hightower and one daughter, Margaret Ann Hightower Yelle, three grandchildren, Zachary David Hightower of and Melissa Yelle Baldwin of Huntsville, Alabama, Pamela Hightower Glach (Cory) of Oak Harbor, Washington, and three great-grandchildren, Aurora Kathleen Baldwin, Cameron Glach and Kaylee Glach. Margaret’s husband, Joseph Munn Hightower, preceded her in death in July of 2001.
Margaret Hightower was a devout Christian born in Madison County, Alabama where she lived most of her life. Her parents, Thomas David Douglass and Agnes Ophelia Johnston Douglass were members of Mt. Zion Baptist Church where Margaret was baptized in 1943, down in Indian Creek. In February of 1951, she married Joe just as he was heading out to serve the US Army in Korea. She attended Florence State Teachers College while he was in service, and they made Athens, Alabama their home for the first years after his return from service. Working at Athens Lumber Company, Margaret began her career as a bookkeeper.
When they later moved back to Monrovia, she went to work for Ray Auto – the Ford Dealership in Huntsville at the time. The dealership was purchased by Woody Anderson the same year that Margaret’s daughter, Ann was born. Mr. Anderson convinced her to return to work at the dealership where she spent the next 45 years, growing in responsibility and eventually retiring as his Business Manager and Comptroller. Known there as “Sarge,” she kept a tight hold on Mr. Anderson’s finances, keeping the books for the dealership, his hotels and other properties. At one point in the 70’s, she was the only female at the Ford meetings, and she helped dealerships across the Southeast adapt to new software that she helped the vendor develop specifically for Ford dealership transactions.
Margaret was a faithful servant. She served at Mt. Zion as Assistant Treasurer and she played piano and taught children’s Sunday School for many years. She brought food for so many events at church, including the teen socials we used to do in the 70’s, not to mention the watermelon socials at her home each summer. In addition to her volunteer and parenting responsibilities, she and Joe took in three elderly relatives to ensure their health care and quality of life were taken care of in their elder years, including Margaret’s mother, their great-aunt, Jenny Johnston, and Uncle Frank Douglass.
Margaret volunteered at Monrovia, Sparkman and Madison Academy, serving PTA and booster clubs and various fund-raising activities along the way. She chaired Fall Festival activities and garnered sponsorships for ball teams and bands. She was a charter member of the American Business Women’s Association Ala-Hunt chapter where she was an officer and delegate to their national conventions.
Through all these activities, she and Joe rarely ever missed a performance or ballgame for either Charles David, Ann, or one of the grandchildren. She was devoted to family, church and community and raised her children to do the same. In Margaret and Joe’s home, there was never any doubt that these parents’ love was unconditional. They both set high standards for service to family and friends, and to church and community.
The funeral service will be Sunday, July 23rd at 2:30 p.m. at Mount Zion Baptist Church with visitation to begin at 1:30. The family is asking that friends make a contribution to Mount Zion’s Mission programs or Cemetery Fund in lieu of flowers.
