9/26/2017
Margaret Anne Whitesell
Margaret Anne Whitesell (née Standish), 91, a Wilmington resident since 2001, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 20, 2017.
Margaret was born on December 24, 1925 in Houston, Texas to Perle Hanna Standish and Lynna Blanche Walker Standish.
Margaret was a direct descendant of Myles Standish, one of the signers of The Mayflower Compact and the Military Captain of the Pilgrims of Plymouth Rock.
She graduated from Sam Houston High School in Houston Texas. She met Roy Marshall Whitesell while he was serving in the U.S. Navy and stationed in Houston; they were married on September 21, 1946.
Margaret and Roy lived in the Elon and Burlington, North Carolina communities where they raised their family. After Roy’s death in 1986, Margaret moved to Gibsonville, NC where she lived for 15 years before relocating to Wilmington.
Margaret worked as an executive secretary for many years and later ran her own secretarial services business. She was an active community volunteer and leader. She was a Girl Scout Leader, a Sunday school teacher, and a choir member at St. Marks Church in Burlington, a leader of the Elon Volunteer Fire Department’s Women’s Auxiliary, a mediator for the Alamance County Court system, a member of the Burlington Woman’s Club and she delivered Mealson-Wheels. While her children attended Elon Public Schools, she was an active parent volunteer and PTA member.
In Wilmington, Margaret volunteered as a greeter at the Wilmington International Airport information desk, and she was a regular volunteer at the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History. Margaret dearly loved her church family at Oleander United Methodist Church in Wilmington where she also volunteered, and served as the church secretary for a few years.
In her long lifetime she explored many hobbies and interests including: gardening, sewing, crafting, bowling, and traveling.
Margaret Whitesell is survived by her three daughters; Linda Whitesell Quiñonez and her husband Ramon of Wilmington, Diane Whitesell Henry and Patricia “Patti” Whitesell Mesh, both of Connecticut. She is also survived by one sister, Ethel Louise Bramhall of California and one brother, John Paul Standish of Texas. She leaves behind five grandchildren: Caroline Alyse Henry, Emily Diane Henry, Carlos McKinley Quiñonez, Scott Davidson Mesh and Stephen Daniel Mesh.
She was preceded in death by brother, Albert Eugene Standish of Texas.
A memorial service to celebrate Margaret’s long life will be held at Oleander United Methodist Church at 5810 Oleander Drive in Wilmington on Saturday, October 21 2017 at 12 p.m.
A luncheon will take place immediately after the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, Wilmington, North Carolina or to Oleander United Methodist Church.
Condolences may be sent to the family at
www.andrewsmortuary.com. 3, Margaret Anne Whitesell