Mrs Margie Kennedy

Margie Lorraine Eastburn Kennedy, wife, mother, grandmother, businesswoman, teacher, friend to all, affectionately known as “Lady,” passed away on September 23, 2022 at 6:45 in the evening. Mrs. Kennedy, a native of Montgomery, Alabama, moved to Foley with her family in 1937. She graduated from Foley High School in 1940 and that same year married Gus Kennedy. They were blessed with five children. She and her husband were in the grocery business in Foley from 1945-1949. In 1948, Margie and Gus built their family home, where she lived for the next 74 years. In 1949, they opened Kennedy Grocery & Market in Gulf Shores. She continued to operate the grocery business alone until 1982 after the death of her husband in 1973. During this time, Mrs. Kennedy operated the business, raised a son, and went to night school at Troy State University - Bay Minette. After graduating with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education (Summa Cum Laude), Mrs. Kennedy accepted a position in the Fall of 1980 at Foley Elementary School. She retired in 1998 after teaching elementary school for eighteen years. At that time, Mrs. Kennedy was the oldest teacher in Alabama. She was a lifelong member of the Foley United Methodist Church and an active member in the Charles S. Stewart Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Mrs. Kennedy was a member of Phi Theta Kappa, Kappa Delta Pi, and Gamma Beta Phi societies. She received the 1998 Foley Optimist Club Achievement Education award for her outstanding educational contributions. After retirement, Margie enjoyed her children, 16 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, siblings and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. She loved playing games (she sandbags most card and domino games), having many laughs and traveling within the states and abroad. Margie is known for her fun spirit, strong determination, good sense, and by the common grace in which she treats all people. She loves her family, the State of Alabama, the USA, and GOD. She has set a stellar example for her family through multiple decades and influenced multiple generations for the good. Mrs. Kennedy is predeceased by her parents, Benjamin Elliott Eastburn and Erma Lee Spradley Eastburn, her husband Augustus (Gus) Barnett Kennedy, brothers Robert, Richard, Joe Eastburn, sister Jean Foreman and son in law, Dr. Leon Flowers. She is survived by siblings Ralph Eastburn of Foley, Dot Burk of Sunset, Texas, daughter Kay Smith and husband Boswell; daughter Dolly Flowers; son Augustus Gus/Brother Kennedy and wife Jan; Daughter Linda Kilgore and husband Mike; son Eric Kennedy and wife Vanessa. Grandchildren Krista Smith Hooten, Kerra Smith Mascaro, Jeffrey Flowers, Shelly Flowers, Michael Kennedy, Courtney Kennedy Ball, Tripp Macolly, Carson Macolly, Kelly Kilgore Treadwell, Shane Kilgore, Rylan Kilgore, Erin Weissman, Benjamin Weissman, Rachel Weissman Loomis, Sommer Kennedy and Emma Kennedy. The Kennedy family would like to thank the Kindred Hospice team for the quality care they provided, and an extra special thanks to Mrs. Kennedy’s loving care givers, Helen Williams, Gloria Lucas and Edith Leonard. These ladies displayed unconditional love and commitment toward Mrs. Kennedy for almost 9 years. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 1 at Foley United Methodist Church. The visitation will begin at 1pm just prior to the 2 pm service. A graveside service will be held following the memorial service at Pine Rest Cemetery. A celebration of life will follow the graveside service in the fellowship hall at the church. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Margie Kennedy, can be made to Foley United Methodist Church Re: Scholarship fund.

Mrs Margie Kennedy

October 7, 1922 - September 23, 2022