Marguerite Jones Harbert, age 91, of Mountain Brook, Alabama died Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at her home of 61 years. She was born in Birmingham, and was the daughter of the late Raymond McAdoo Jones and the late Marguerite Nabers Jones. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 43 years, John Murdoch Harbert III (founder of Harbert Corporation) and her sister Alice “Acky” McGriff. She is survived by her three children: John “Jay” Murdoch Harbert IV; Raymond Jones Harbert (Kathryn); Marguerite “Margie” Harbert Gray (Sam); her six grandchildren: Raymond Jones Harbert, Jr. (Cole); Mary Kathryn Harbert (Jack); John Murdoch Harbert II; Marguerite Harbert Gray; Samuel Eugene Gray, Jr; Caroline Nabers Gray and three great-granddaughters: Helen Cole Harbert; Mary Mabray Harbert; and Catherine Patton Harbert; plus many loving nieces and nephews. Marguerite, nicknamed “Wita”, lived a full and active life. She attended Mountain Brook Elementary, Phillips High School, and graduated from Birmingham Southern College with a double major in liberal arts and science. She was an accomplished athlete, earning many awards for her athletic ability in golf, tennis, swimming, softball and basketball. She was voted the top intramural female athlete at Birmingham Southern College all four years of her college career and was inducted into the Birmingham Southern College Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. While at “Southern”, she was president of Kappa Delta Sorority and later in life was given the most distinguished over fifty alumnae award and the Order of the Pearl. During her summers as a young girl, she attended Camp Meenahga in Wisconsin on a sports scholarship; and she later worked there as a counselor in charge of the waterfront. After graduating from college, Wita worked at the American Red Cross, heading up their safety service division and supervising all the teaching programs in Jefferson County. Throughout her life she was a contributing member of the community, giving her time to: Junior League of Birmingham, Advent Day School, All-Saints School, Children’s Hospital, Center for Developmental Learning Disabilities, Spain Rehabilitation, Birmingham Art Association, Birmingham Ballet League, American Heart Association and Linly Heflin Unit. She also served on several boards: Cancer Comprehensive, Birmingham Southern College, Birmingham Museum of Art, and following her husband’s death, Smithsonian Institution Board of Regents. Wita was the co-chair with her husband, John, and Mrs. Crawford “TeeDee” Johnson for the Birmingham Museum of Art’s Ball in 1967. A consummate outdoorswoman, Wita was an accomplished bird hunter, having traveled with her husband, John, enjoying their shared love of the sport. Wita was also an avid needlepointer. She was a member of the American Needlepoint Guild, needlepointing a dining room chair seat for the governor’s mansion of Alabama. She was a member of the Nineteenth Century Club, the Little Garden Club of America and a lifelong member of St. Mary’s on-the-Highlands Episcopal Church. Since the fifties, she spent every summer at her favorite place, Highlands, North Carolina, where she enjoyed her love of golf, tennis, bridge and the outdoors, winning several golf club championships in North Carolina and Birmingham. Her family and friends will remember her for her wit, her clever toasts and her friendship. She fought tirelessly for those that she believed in, most importantly her eldest son, Jay; and because of her efforts his life has been greatly enriched. The family would like to express their appreciation to her devoted friend, Neville George Palmer, for his support and love throughout her life and also to his wife Daphne Joyce Palmer, Jacqueline Connor, Angela Gail Watkins, Adria Park, Abrigail Cross, Mary Louise Chandler and Will Rudolph (deceased). There will be a private family graveside service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Linly Heflin Unit, St. Mary’s-on-the Highlands or a charity of your choice
