Margaret Harkness

A Time To Be Born….

On March 1, 1923, in the city of Appling, County of McDuffy, Georgia the daughter of Ida Williams-Hunt and Harvey Hunt Sr was born and named Margarette Hunt, later known as Margaret and Maggie if you really knew her. 

A Time To Learn, Live and Love….

Margaret received her education up to the third grade before she fell ill, and this illness kept her out of school for a long time. Yet she persevered through life and later received her GED in the 8th grade. Maggie decided that she had enough of “country life” of Appling, Georgia, so after she left the country, she hopped a milk truck and headed for the big city of Augusta, Georgia. There, she met and married Lawrence Scott in 1945. Maggie, like many of that period, followed the migration pattern and moved up north which took her to Sandusky, Ohio right on Lake Erie across from Canada. It was here that she raised her three children, Willie Mae, Harvey and Roosevelt. Here she also launched her new work life for the gas company, and she also worked as a housekeeper at the Siesta Motel. Later she joined the team at GTE, now called Verizon where she remained for over 20 years and retired. Maggie was not afraid of hard work, but never overlooked the ability to provide for her family in all facets of their lives. In a word – perseverance! She truly excelled in raising her family especially in the area of faith in God. She modeled what it is and was to be a servant of the Most High….everyday! 

A Time To Serve….

Maggie found God at an early age in her life and never let Him go. She was an avid church planter. She was a charter member of Porter’s Memorial CME Church in Sandusky, Ohio, which started out in a coal shed. This epitomizes that nothing is too hard for God. She sold all kinds of dinners to raise funds to build the church. She traveled as a “Worthy Matron’ of the Order of the Eastern Stars, St. Martha’s Chapter whose District covered Pennsylvania and Ohio, but their travels took them up and down the Eastern states. This affiliated Maggie with many churches throughout the East and she started a church in her garage, now known as Norwalk Community Church, located in Norwalk, Ohio. While she was at Porter’s Memorial CME Church, she met and married Hugh Don Harkness, the Sunday School Superintendent. This union lasted until his death in 1978. After her son Harvey graduated, he later moved to Portland, Oregon and Maggie moved out and connected with First AME Zion Church of Portland, where she became a life-member, received her Exhorter’s license and was the Conference Delegate on numerous occasions. Service to God and His Church was truly her way of life.  She served and worshipped until she was physically unable to attend; however, that did not prevent her from working. Often the Pastor would come out and see her and get his sermon for the following Sunday after fellowshipping with Maggie. Maggie also ministered to her Meals on Wheels volunteers and in good fashion they would save the best for last to hear the Word of God as they so enjoyed their time with her as well. Her compassion and love overflowed in service.

A Time To Die….

On March 2, 2021, the day after her 98th birthday, Maggie was placed on hospice. To keep things decent and in order, Maggie was called home by her Heavenly Father on May 2, 2021 which happened to be First Sunday. She gave up her deaconess duties on this earthly realm for first service, first Sunday deaconess duties in the Heavenly realm. She leaves memories that will be forever cherished in the heart of her daughter Willie Mae Carr and her son Roosevelt Scott. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, Ida Hunt and Harvey Hunt Sr; her brothers Johnnie Hunt and Willie Jennings; her sister Pauline (Polly) Hall; her son Harvey Scott and her grandsons Floyd Sails and Dana Scott. She leaves to mourn her grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews and a host of friends and communities.

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