Margaret Douglas Cannon

Mrs. Margaret Douglas Cannon of Fort Meade, FL passed away Jan. 5 2009 in Haines City, FL. Mrs. Cannon was a native of Ragland, AL who had moved her family to Ft. Meade in 1946 where she lived the remainder of her life. The last five years she lived at the Haines City Health Care Center near her son Jack and wife Carol. She was preceded in death by her first husband Rube Jack Douglas in 1958 and her husband of 40 yrs Rayford Cannon in 2000, and one brother Fred Edge. Survivors include her sons Jack and wife Carol Douglas of Haines City, Bob and wife Frances of Lake Mary; her daughters Grace and husband Chester Holden of Ft. Meade, Sheila Liederbach of Jacksonville and one Brother, Ledonial Edge of La Grange, TN.; Seven Grandchildren, Lorri Mulholland of Orlando, Deanna Trencher of Sammamish, Washington, Steven Douglas of Orlando, Scott Douglas of Orlando, Melissa Holden of Vacaville, CA, Chet Holden of Tampa and Wayne Andrews of Ohio. She has nine Great Grandchildren; Channing Mulholland, Brooke Mulholland, Chandler Docusen, Colden Docusen, Cameron Trencher, Addison Trencher, Lauren Trencher, Nick Beauchamp, and Amelia Holden. She has been a member of the First Church of God in Ft. Meade since 1951. She was an avid quilter in the later years of her life whose work was recognized in newspaper articles and county wide displays. Her life was devoted to her family. She used her retirement enjoying & caring for her Grandchildren and spending time with her husband Rayford. She was affectionately known among her friends as the 'guava queen' because of the many delicious dishes she could prepare with guavas. Members of her church looked forward to church dinners and the delicious guava dishes she brought. She finished her working career as a sectionizer for Ben Hill Griffin Company in Bartow, after working as a nurse aide in Polk County Hospital and many years as a clerk for Brewington's 5 & 10. She was always a willing and compassionate friend. She was the originator of her church quilting circle that met for many years and quilted to raise funds for the church missionary work. She brought her family to Florida in 1946 because, as she always laughed and said, " I wanted to live someplace where one could go barefoot in the winter". She spent the last few years of her life as a true inspiration to the workers and residents of the Health Care Center and was dearly loved by everyone there. She said she was content there and glad she could be a witness for the Lord to those around her. She will be missed by everyone who knew and loved her. Arrangements are being handled by McLean Funeral Home, 306 East Broadway, Fort Meade, FL, where the family will receive friends from 1 to 2 pm Thursday, January 8, 2009. Funeral service will follow at 2 pm the same day. Rev. Travis Risner and Rev. Randall Belcher officiating. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Meade.