Marjorie "Margie" May Galloway

Marjorie (“Margie”) May Galloway died peacefully with her family by her side on December 23, 2018 at the age of 88.

Her attitude towards life was simple—smile every day, be kind to everyone, and be optimistic. But another important and somewhat less philosophical hallmark Margie lived by was to learn to play cards (particularly poker) early, and play them often. Her weekly dates with her friends to play bridge and poker in Auburn, AL were the highlight of her week. The love and support those groups provided each other while playing cards for pennies was the foundation for her later life.

Margie was a remarkable woman and mother to four children. Margie and Pat lived and loved a lot through the birth of 4 children in 6 years, each born in a different state, Alabama, Kentucky, South Carolina and Georgia. When the youngest child was only 6 weeks old, Pat was transferred to St. Petersburg, Florida and he had to leave immediately. Margie was solely responsible for finding a new home, packing the old home, and setting up the new home, all accomplished with a five, four, three and 6 week old. She accomplished all that with her “can-do” attitude and optimism. In each town, Margie and Pat located a church for the family to attend, taught Sunday School, made new friends, found bridge and poker partners, learned to square dance (with costumes and all) and made a home for the family.   

Margie knew that we each carried our “own bag of rocks,” and she loved and encouraged everyone in their own journey, knowing the bag of rocks is lighter when we have love and support. She was a true Southern lady, who lived life with joy and a spirit of adventure.   Margie loved to fly in a commercial airplane or in her son-in-law’s antique two-seater airplane, she loved to ride on boats, and she loved to try anything and go anywhere while traveling. Though from simple beginnings in Alabama, Margie’s life was a tapestry of experience and encapsulated a wealth of faith, happiness, and an inner determination that remains her legacy.

Other than poker and cheap red wine, Margie’s true love was her husband, James Patrick Galloway, who passed away in 2010. They were married on Christmas Eve in 1949 and celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary in heaven this year. Together, they welcomed their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, moved across the country, adventured throughout the world, created memories and opportunities for their family, laughed abundantly, and cherished one another. Margie missed Pat every day after his death and we celebrate their reunion.

Margie is survived by Lois Lord of Macon, GA, Lynn and Guy Gullick of Pleasant Garden, NC, Rick and Susan Galloway of Birmingham, AL, and Russ and Sherry Galloway of Murfreesboro, TN. Her grandchildren—to whom she was “Geemaw”—are Steve Lord, Charles Durham, Erin and Dave Willis, Kelly Blount, Eva Gullick Frongello and Michael Frongello, Scott and Bailey Galloway, Marjorie Gullick McLean and Matthew McLean, Kathryn Galloway, Alex Galloway, and Kimberly Galloway. She has six great-children: Ashley and Charles Patrick Durham, Brooklyn Blount, Lawton and Rhett Willis, and May Kennedy Galloway.

A celebration of her inspiring life will be held on Saturday, January 5, 2019 with the burial at 12:30 PM at Memorial Park Cemetery, visitation at 1 PM in the Founders Chapel, Auburn United Methodist Church and at 2 PM a Celebration of Life in the Founders Chapel, Auburn United Methodist Church.  

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to make a donation to Auburn United Methodist Church; Auburn Alumni Association for the James Patrick Galloway Scholarship Fund of Excellence or to the charity of your choice. Mostly, in honoring Margie’s memory, we hope you will be inspired to live as she would: with a strong foundation of faith, be kind to everyone, smile often, and remain optimistic, despite the bag of rocks we each carry.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home and Crematory

www.jeffcoattrant.com