Margaret Owens Pope

Raleigh - Mrs. Margaret Owens Pope, age 90, died Sunday, October 11, 2015.  Mrs. Pope was born in Brunswick, Georgia on April 11, 1925, and was the seventh and youngest child of George Mitchell and Maggie Marr Owens.   She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Mitchell Owens, Thomas Owens, Harry Owens, Geneva Edenfield, Sue Roundtree, and Eugene Owens. Mrs. Pope attended Glynn Academy while growing up in Brunswick and attended Kings Business College in Raleigh.  Her love of children led her to teach kindergarten as a young adult, and later she was employed by Cameron Village Apartments / J.W. York & Co.    It was while working with Cameron Village Apartments that she met her future husband, Claude Hughes Pope.  They married in 1964 at Edenton Street United Methodist Church and blended two families, modeling love, joy, faith, and character for their children. Mrs. Pope was a member of St. Saviors Episcopal Church and Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Raleigh, and more recently, Edenton Street United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the Cokesbury Isley Sunday School class and along with her husband, Claude, served as a Lay Shepherd.   Additionally, she held membership in the Fort Frederica Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Raleigh Woman’s Club. Mrs. Pope is survived by her devoted husband, Claude; sons Thomas Eugene McAlister and wife Judy of Augusta, GA;  Daniel Wright McAlister and wife Susan of Raleigh, NC;   Hughes Pope, Jr. and wife Nina of San Diego, CA.; Patrick Lee Pope and wife Jane of Cary, NC; and Stewart Ratliff Pope and wife Arlene of Raleigh, NC.   She is also survived by nine grandchildren:  John Glover ( Susan) , Cheya Pope (Rick) , Tyler Pope (Suzanne) , Sarah McAlister (Tripp) , Ryan Pope (Ali) , Carey Pope (John) ,  Preston Pope ( Jasmine) , Tommy McAlister (Sarah) , and John Pope ( Clint) , as well as seven great grandchildren. The family is especially grateful to Esther Mwandi and Frieda Dadoo for their continued love and support. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at Edenton Street United Methodist Church with visitation to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Music Ministry or Children and Youth Ministry of Edenton Street United Methodist Church, 228 West Edenton St., Raleigh, NC 27603 Arrangements by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Raleigh. Condolences may be made to bryan-leefuneralhome.com