Margaret Ann Williamson Carter, daughter of the late Thomas and Ethel Payne Williamson. She was born May 8, 1942, in Cleveland, Ohio. She is proceeded in death by her siblings Warren Williamson, Mayola Catron, Jeanette Camp, Constance Williamson, Betty Pickens, and Phyllis Williamson, and nephew Randolph Nelson. Margaret peacefully went to sleep on Thursday, October 24, 2024, after her strong fight against breast cancer, surrounded and supported in her transition, by her husband, her children, and her grandchildren.
Margaret and her sibling’s favorite pastime with their father, known as, “Sonny” would occur when he would take them fishing. Although they hated fishing, their outings were treasured moments to please their dad and enjoy skipping rocks on the water.
While in the 8th grade at Empire Jr. High, Margaret met a young man, named James Mitchell Carter. During classes that they shared together Margaret, would wiggle her ears, nose and eyebrows always getting James in trouble. She then became affectionately known as “Mousey”. Due to their agape love and inability to stay apart, on June 25, 1960, at Bethany Baptist Church, James and Margaret were united in holy matrimony. Margaret and James always loved family and knew they wanted to start one of their own. From this union, Pandora Laverne, James Mitchell, and Pamela Michelle were born.
Margaret’s strong math background encouraged her career at Atlanta Life Insurance company where she became an Assistant Manager, and then a Teller at Cleveland Trust. Later, Margaret was honored to be the Manager of the First Black owned grocery store in Collinwood, owned by her brother-in-love Joseph Carter Jr. In 1978 Margaret became the Accounts Receivable Supervisor for the hotel and restaurant division of Stouffer Restaurant. Margaret retired as a top sales agent for Realty One. Always known for her personalized license plates “1 Realty”.
Margaret and James always strived for greater. While continuing her education at Cleveland State University, raising children, and being a loving wife, Margaret and James became the first blacks to purchase an apartment complex in the Kinsman Development area.
After a year of visiting Southeast Seven Day Adventist Church in 1980 Margaret, her husband, her children, and her aunt Mamie became dutiful members. As the head of the greeters committee, Margaret became the inviting face for visitors of Southeast SDA, always greeting you with her beautiful smile and vibrant personality. Her favorite words were “I’d like to leave you with a thought with you”. She would share a poem from week to week touching visitors and the congregation with comfort and wisdom as she spoke so eloquently. Margaret assumed many more duties as a part of the Women’s Ministry, food and fellowship, bible study at their home, Pathfinders, and Adventist Youth to name a few. She spent years enjoying taking her family and friends to all the Stouffer Restaurants and hotels. Including the Southeast Pathfinders to Pier E for brunch.
Always a well-polished, classy, lady, Margaret had a passion for clothes, shoes, and fine dining. Her most prized moments were those with her husband, her children, her grandchildren and her “Coribean” (great-granddaughter). Margaret also held a strong and loving relationship with her late parents-in-love, Joseph and Dorothy Carter and her late brothers-in-love Cornelius Sr, LeVoyd Sr, Joseph Sr, Kendall, and Dwayne.
She leaves to cherish fond memories her beloved husband, James of 64 years, children Pandora, James (Denys), and Pamela (Anthony); grandchildren Kwesi (Taria), Mekka, Karriem, Binta, Toni, Khamal, and Jamir; one great-grandchild Cori; nephew Thomas and a host of relatives and close friends.