Margaret M. Hackney closed her eyes and woke up in Heaven early Thursday morning, March 12, 2015. She had resided on Lisbon Street since 1964, and passed away in her home at the age of 83.

Born in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina on June 23, 1931, she was a daughter of Eula Walker Jennings and Vernon Elvis Jennings, both evangelists who ministered and sang together as a family throughout the eastern United States.

On January 23, 1951, she married Herbert L. Hackney, who himself was an evangelist, so Margaret was a natural-born pastor’s wife, as they traveled throughout Pennsylvania, Maine, and Georgia, pastoring numerous churches. Rev. Hackney’s last church appointment was with the Mudlick Hollow Church of God in Vanport, PA, during which time the family came to this area when he also took a teaching position with East Liverpool Schools.

Upon her husband’s untimely death on June 27, 1982, she continued to care for their family while also caring for several elderly persons in their homes. She had been a laundry attendant at Calcutta Health Care Center and was also a precinct worker with the Board of Elections, primarily in Liverpool Township for many years. Throughout her life, she had a rock-solid faith and always appreciated music, playing the accordion and the piano, and especially loved praising the Lord and singing at the top of her lungs.

Margaret was recently attending God’s Haven of Rest in East Palestine, and had been a member of Women’s Aglow in Wellsville and East Liverpool in her earlier years.

There are four daughters and two sons: Sandy Tiso and her husband, Ron, of Carrollton, TX; Donna Wymer and her husband, Richard, of East Liverpool; Lena Ruttner and her husband, John, also of East Liverpool; Nancy Anthony and her husband, Greg, of Frisco, Texas; and Jeffrey Hackney and Timothy Hackney and his companion, Trena Colgrove, all of East Liverpool.

She also leaves behind 17 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren, who loved their “gramma” – as did all their friends who were always welcomed with open arms. There are also numerous nieces and nephews.

Margaret was the eldest of twelve; she is survived by five brothers and two sisters. Two brothers and two sisters have preceded her in death, as well as a granddaughter.

Friends may visit Sunday at the Dawson Funeral Home where the family will be present from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Rev. John Parker of God’s Haven of Rest and Margaret’s nephew Rev. J.C. Little will conduct a funeral service at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, after which time family and friends will gather for a continued time of fellowship at the Dawson Family Center.

Burial will be at Oak Grove Cemetery in Industry, PA.