MARGIE RUTH KENNEDY
Sept. 6, 1942 – Feb. 11, 2023
Margie Ruth Kennedy, age 80, of Greenville, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 at Crowne Healthcare Facility.
A Celebration of Life Service was held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at First Baptist Church, Greenville, and was preceded by visitation at the church from 9:30 until 10:45 a.m. John Girdley, Pastor, First Baptist, Rick Hagans, Founder of Harvest Evangelism, Opelika, and Linda Suzanne Borgen, Rector, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Greenville, officiated the service. Special music was presented by Randy Clipp, Margie’s nephew. A Graveside Service was held on Friday, Feb. 17, beginning at 11 a.m. from Fort Dale Cemetery.
Margie is survived by her husband of 57 years, Charlie Kennedy; daughters, Kristy Kennedy and Lindsey Benedict; son-in-law, Joe Benedict; grandson, Joseph Benedict; sisters, Cornelia Clipp and Mitzi Jones; and many nieces and nephews. Other close relatives include Mark and Peggy Kennedy, and Karen and Butch Johnson.
Margie was born in Louisville, Ky., third daughter of Cornell and Ruth Goerner. Dr. Goerner was a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. The family relocated to Richmond, Virginia, when Margie was 15 where she graduated from John Marshall High School in 1960. Following graduation, she attended Howard College (now Samford University) in Birmingham, where she met and fell in love with Charlie. They were married in 1965 and moved to Greenville, Charlie’s hometown, in 1967.
First Baptist Church in Greenville was Margie’s second home for more than 50 years. She served the church as Youth Minister, Singles Minister, taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, led many prayer teams and Bible studies, served on the Bereavement Committee and was active in many other ministries and programs of the church. She was indeed a “Pillar of the Church”. Margie also was a dedicated member of the Butler County Ministerial Association for many years and served as Recording and Corresponding Secretary for the Association.
When she arrived in Greenville in 1967 Margie launched a career as an educator. She taught French and English in the public schools of Butler and Conecuh Counties for more than 20 years. She was also a member of the faculty at Fort Dale Academy for a brief time. Her last position before retirement was at Greenville Middle School where she founded and sponsored the Fellowship of Active Christian Teachers and Students (F.A.C.T.S. Club).
Margie was truly a Godly Woman and Prayer Warrior. She was devoted to her family, her church and her Savior throughout her life.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial gift to First Baptist Church, 212 Fort Dale Road, Greenville, AL 36037 www.myfbcgreenville.com or Harvest Evangelism, PO Box 2888, Opelika, AL 36803. www.harvestevangelism.org
For online condolences, please visit www.dunklinfh.com.