Margaret (Kell) Caudill

Margaret Kell Caudill, 84, passed away on Saturday, December 26 at Scotia Village in Laurinburg following a brave battle with Alzheimer’s Disease as well as a recent bout with COVID-19.

Born September 21, 1936 in Charlotte, she was the daughter of the late Samuel Hicklin Kell, Jr. and Margaret Hasty Kell.  She grew up in Waxhaw and was a graduate of Waxhaw High School.  Following graduation, she attended Southeastern College of Beauty Culture in Charlotte and until the birth of her son served as Manager of the Belk LaMarick Beauty Salon at Belk Brothers in downtown Monroe.  After being a caring housewife and mother for her son, she later shared her love for children as a teacher’s assistant in first through third grades at Western Union Elementary School. She was particularly known for finding the students who needed her special care and attention the most and in building their esteem and helping them achieve.  In spare time she enjoyed preparing the harvests of a bountiful vegetable garden and was widely known for her cooking abilities.  She possessed a true sense of “Southern hospitality” which was exemplified through numerous small parties, cookouts, and family gatherings which she enjoyed immensely – known for always insisting that everyone have “just a little bit more.”  After retirement from Union County Schools, she enjoyed short trips and shopping excursions with her husband Jake, as well as following her son Bill’s pursuits – attending Scottish related events throughout the Southeast and being a “band mom” for students of the St. Andrews Presbyterian College Pipe Band during their travels in the 1990’s and early 2000’s.  She took special pride in her only child and was a true “doting mother” in the best sense.  Being very proud of her family and ancestry, she delighted in being able to visit Scotland and Northern Ireland in the summer of 1996 with her son as guide – visiting the homes of several ancestors from both sides of her family.  She also loved spending time with her two grandsons after their arrival, and of whom she was immensely proud.   She devoted her time and energies to that whole extended family for as long as she was able.  She and husband Jake relocated to Laurinburg in 2009, following their diagnoses of Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Diseases respectively, to be closer to her son and his family.  A lifelong Presbyterian, she was a member of Banks and Tirzah Presbyterian Churches in Union County and finally of the Laurinburg Presbyterian Church.

She is survived by her only child, William Samuel (Bill) Caudill, and his wife Anne, as well as two grandsons – John Alexander Caudill and Daniel MacQueen Caudill of Laurinburg.  She was predeceased by her only sibling, Mary Kathryn Simpson of Pinehurst, and in January of this year by her husband of 59 years, William Jake Caudill.

A memorial service and celebration of life is will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 18, 2021 at Laurinburg Presbyterian Church, officiated by Rev. Sue Hudson. The family will receive friends following the service in the church fellowship hall.  The family asks that Memorials be directed to:  Scotland County Highland Games, P.O. Box 1102 Laurinburg, NC  28352; The Scottish Heritage Center at St. Andrews University 1700 Dogwood Mile, Laurinburg, NC  28352-5598; or to Scottish Heritage USA – P.O. Box 457 Pinehurst, NC  28374.

Bumgarner Family Funeral Service and Crematorium is serving the family.

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