In Memory of Margaret Hayes
Margaret was a loyal member of our church for many years, she took on many responsibilities that needed doing.
She will be missed by all who knew her. She was a very generous person and always contributed to each part of the church life.
She led the Womens Social Hour when it was a thriving afternoon fellowship, and although mainly for women,
a few males attended as well. With the fun and fellowship it was a good place to be.
Another part of her life was looking after the church flowers which, when Elspethh Pike died, were left in Margaret's capable hands.
She was a special person who week after week would beautify our church with flowers.
We know that Margaret made a decision to follow Jesus early in life and she spent the rest of it journeying towards
the Promised Land.
A few memories of Margaret from Dorothy Wray.
Margaret was my friend of many years, she left us so suddenly that few of us had a chance to say goodbye,
but I saw her in hospital and when told I was there, her reply was "thought it wouldn't be long before she
was here". She could be very abrupt, we all at times, got told off by her.
She was so fond of her family and Jean, her longstanding friend, and also her many church friends.
She did many jobs in the church over the years, a Steward, leader of the Social Hour, help with the Bazaar, coffee
mornings. She managed the flowers for a while which is a bigger job than people think, and when her sight became
too bad to do things she helped in any way she was able.
We spent many days together, coach outings and trips to gardens, shopping trips, and endless cups
of tea at the coffee shop while we put the world to rights.
She was so proud of her son and he always came home for her birthday and usually took her to the Ritz
for tea and sometimes a London Show, and she made sure we knew when he was coming.
We had things in common, her son is a chef and so is my grandson, and his birthday is the same day and
year as her Granddaughter Victoria, I think she thought I'd done it on purpose as if I could have.
On one of our trips to Weymouth we were in an art gallery, and I saw a painting of a Kingfisher by a mill.
I described it to her, and as that is the name of her daughter's house in Cypress she bought it and was
so pleased to tell me they like it and later when it was hung in the Cypress House.
She made me laugh when we went to Canterbury Cathedral. She said she hadn't proof with her that she
was a pensioner. I said "If they can't tell by the look of us two, its them that need the white stick, not Margaret".
When she became almost blind and couldn't read, she was so sad, but her memory was very good and many
hymns she knew by heart and parts of the Bible too, but when the time came I think she was ready to go to her Lord.
Yes Margaret loved her family and all her Church Family. We shall all miss her but I thank her for being my
friend and just being Margaret.
Dorothy Wray
A few words from Nick our Minister.
Margaret's final journey was quick. She had a fall at home, which didn’t seem to serious
and Margaret was making light of it, but within a week she had passed away.
Not only was the journey quick but it was also peppered with Margaret’s
strong personality. In that moment I saw the Margaret I knew, A person who didn’t take prisoners –
if it was wrong in her eyes it was wrong and she’d tell you so. But that personality was an exterior
which was born out of the hardness of life but I don’t believe at all that was all there was to Margaret.
Judith had brought Margaret a holding Cross so that she might know that Jesus was near her at all times.
As she held the palm cross in her hand – Margaret was at peace and allowed Jesus to come
once more and take her home to heaven to the room he had prepared for her.
She held on to it right to the end. A sure sign of her relationship with Christ and with God.
Many of you will know that Margaret was nearly blind and her lack of sight meant that she was unable
to continue with her love of needlework and reading.
In one sense she walked in the shadow of the valley because her eyesight had deteriorated,
but now she is in heaven we rejoice that she has the light that comes from the radiance of
God and now sees more clearly than us.
Margaret had some treasured possessions, one is a picture, It shows Jesus knocking at a door –
He’s holding a lamp and the painting is called “The Light of the World”.
In passing from this life Margaret has received healing and wholeness in God.
We all give thanks for her life on earth and join in celebration of the new life she has with God in heaven.
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