DANVILLE - Margaret (Ingram) Smith, 88, of Birmingham, Ala., passed this life 6:45 a.m. Monday, Sept. 4, 2017 at Presence Hospital, Champaign. The family says goodbye to mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and cousin. Margaret, survivor or her battles, smiling, she was clothed with strength and dignity and known as a woman of noble character. She gave advice to some, counsel to others and stretched out her hand to many who were poor and needy. She shared wonderful life experiences and learned wisdom with her family.

Margaret Smith was born Feb. 14, 1929, in Birmingham, the daughter of Sadie (Ingram) Ware and Willie Hooks.

She hated worry, her magical words were, "don't worry about me, I will be in Paradise one day." She felt worry was a waste of time in life you could be living.

She taught us what it means to love Jehovah and listen for his directions. Even when things don't go our way, we were encouraged to keep Jehovah first, listen to his will, and remain strong in our faith.

She lived life like so few of us do, taking each day with a smile and treating each encounter with man as an opportunity to generate more love or to learn something new.

She loved to laugh. Hearing her laughter and seeing that twinkle in her eyes were priceless. You could hear her delighted laughter both near and far. She believed laughter was cure to many ailments. She had answers to everything and gave it to you if you wanted it or not.

On many mornings and afternoons, we'd sit around the kitchen table as she told stories of her life in Birmingham, her marriages and raising her children. She was a voracious storyteller - the kind that made stories come alive like a good movie on a Sunday afternoon. In these stories, she shared her wisdom and taught life lessons along the way. These stories were powerful. We learned how to live life fearlessly, how to treat and live with our spouse, and how to love the Lord with our heart, soul, and mind.

The most magical love of all is the love she had for family, sisters, children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews - giving all of herself to them daily, unselfishly. Her ears always ready to listen, arms that always hug and hold and love that's never ending. There isn't a thing she wouldn't do for family. She taught us to sacrifice for ones you love and that family is the most important gift we have. "I love all my kids the same."

We will tell and listen to hundreds of stories about her and cry at the memories and be thankful we had such an amazing woman in our life.

A broken sparrow flying free,

Shared his love,

So all could receive,

The smile of life embroiled upon her wings.

She is survived by her two sisters, April (John) King and Eleanora (Willie) Howard; daughters, Dorothy (Lawrence) Beasley, Margaret Boyd, Evelyn (Oliver) Buford, Barbara Evans, Susan (Thomas) Parker, all of Danville, Clara Beasley of Champaign, and Brenda Evans of Paxton; brothers, Dorsey (Patricia) Boyd of Danville and Larry Boyd of Champaign; and a host of five generations of grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, George Smith; mother; father; stepfathers; daughter, Cheyl; three sons, Ocie, Smith and Edward; three grandsons, DeRon, "Meechie", and "Shannon"; two brothers, Emmanuel and David; sister, Judy Rice; nephews; and cousins.

Margaret was a homemaker and worked in various homes in Birmingham. She had a love for old black and white movies and love songs.

A memorial service will be held 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 at Kingdom Hall, 619 E. Voorhees St., Danville. A repass will be held following the memorial. Condolences may be offered at www.leekandsonsfuneralhome.com.