Margaret Elizabeth Hight

Margaret Elizabeth Hight At her bedside surrounded by her closest friends, caretakers, and minister, Margaret Elizabeth Hight, 99, met her Lord face to face. She resided for over 40 years at Traceway Methodist Senior Services Retirement Center, which she referred to as, "a place between home and heaven."   A celebration took place in heaven only eight months prior to her 100th birthday here.  "Today {March 19, 2016} I witnessed one of the most beautiful moments of my life, to date, as my sweet friend, with a fondness for strawberry ice cream, departed from this life. At her advanced age, this wonderful woman, graced me with such wisdom, kindness and love I will never forget.  Her story is an amazing one, but perhaps most profound is how she brought people together as family."  This statement was made by her personal physician and dear friend, Dr. Sarah Barowka.  She was born in Jackson, Tennessee, on November 4, 1916, to William Coke and Alice Greer Hight.  A graduate of Humes High School in Memphis, Tennessee, she then went on to obtain her Bachelor's degree  in English from Memphis State University.  She continued her education by earning her Master's degree in Social Work from Scarrit College in Nashville, Tennessee.  An accomplished pianist, at the age of 13, she moved with her family to Memphis, where she performed with local orchestras.  She had dreams of studying music at Julliard, but instead she turned to the ministry, utilizing her musical skills while doing her church work.  Margaret always felt an urgent calling by God.  At 35 years of age, she began her ministry when the Bishop commissioned and consecrated her as Deaconess in the United Methodist Church.  Margaret often referred to this being her greatest moment in life. She served as Deaconess for over fifty years, never regretting her surrender to God's call.  In later years, she was a member of First United Methodist Church, Tupelo and the Explorer's Bible Class. Being the music lover she was, Margaret travelled to New York annually for over 30 years to hear various concerts. She especially enjoyed classical music; Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Schubert and Mendelssohn.  Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 23, 2016, at First United Methodist Church, Tupelo Chapel with Rev. Fred Britton officiating.  Graveside services will be held at 4 p.m. March 23, 2016, at Forest Hill Cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee.  W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.  Honorary pallbearers will be retired Deaconesses of the United Methodist Church, all Methodist clergy, and all employees of Methodist Senior Services.  Survivors include cousins, James Hight, Jr. (Clarice) of Tennessee and Elizabeth Hight of Georgia and special friends, Dr. Sarah Barowka, Dana (Bert) Duncan and Vickie (Merle) McAnally.  She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Sarah Louise Hight; uncle, Robert Hight; aunt, Maggie Lee Hight and cousins, John Hight and Jack Hight.  Visitation will be 9:30 until service time Wednesday, March 23, 2016, at First United Methodist Church, Tupelo Chapel.  Memorials may be made to Methodist Senior Services, 109 S. Broadway St., Tupelo, MS, 38804 or First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 854, Tupelo, MS, 38802.  Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com .