Margaret’s Obituary Margaret Kennedy Lewis was born on April 20, 1918 in Bascom, Florida. Her father was Dr. Robert L Kennedy, a country doctor, and her mother was Emma D. Kennedy, a school teacher. The family moved to Malone, Florida, where Margaret grew up and attended school, graduating from Malone High School in 1935.
She entered the Florida State College for Women in Tallahassee and graduated in 1939 with a Bachelor of Science degree. She then began her teaching career in Suwannee County. It was there that she met Fred Lewis.
They were married in 1941 and were together for almost 70 years. Fred was drafted, served in Europe during WWII, and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. During Fred’s wartime deployment, Margaret moved to Panama City in 1944 to live with her parents.
She gave birth to daughter Diane that year. After the birth of her son John in 1946, she “retired’ from teaching for several years. In the early 1950’s she returned to teaching at Cove Elementary School.
During the summer months, Margaret attended Florida State University to earn a Master of Science degree in psychology. Simultaneously, she developed an ardent interest in children with special needs because of her long association with the child of the minister at her church. For the next several years, Margaret continued teaching and advocating for students with disabilities to be included in the public school system.
As the educational system expanded to accommodate more children, Margaret became a school administrator and served as the founder and principal of Oak Grove Center. In 1980, in honor of her dedication to her students, the school was renamed the Margaret K. Lewis School. The school has since relocated to Millville and remains a vital part of the Bay District Schools.
Margaret was a Life Member of the Council for Exceptional Children, and a longtime member of the Delta Mu chapter of the educational society, Delta Kappa Gamma. In addition to Margaret’s contribution to education, she has also been involved in many community activities. She was a charter member of Habitat for Humanity and Mental Health America of Bay County, active with the Democratic Women’s Club and United Methodist Women, and an avid supporter of the Panama City Music Association, Gulf Jazz Society, Kaleidoscope Theater, the Bay County Historical Society, and Bay Arts Association.
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, brother Robert, and husband Fred. Continuing her legacy are her son John, daughter Diane Johnson (Gerald) and granddaughter Elizabeth, her nieces and nephews, a host of cousins, the many educators that she mentored and inspired, an array of friends, and the children and families for whom she advocated. A service celebrating her life will be held on Sunday, March 3, at 2:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church Community Life Center in Panama City.
The family will begin receiving friends at 1 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow in Evergreen Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Margret K. Lewis School, 203 N. East Ave Panama City, Fl 32401, the Mental Health America of Bay County, 1137 Harrison Ave.
STE. 1 Panama City Fl 32401, or the charity of your choice, in memory of Mrs. Lewis.
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