Margaret Spinks Hannah (August 31st, 1930 – December 30th, 2022)

Margaret Spinks Hannah, age 92 of Tuscaloosa, AL , passed away December 30, 2022 at Hospice of West Alabama.

Services will be held on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 at 12:00 pm at Magnolia Chapel South with Bro. Jim Sexton officiating and Magnolia Chapel South directing. The family will hold a private burial at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park. Visitation will be held from 11:00 am ~ 12:00 pm at Magnolia Chapel South.

She is preceded in death by her husband Calvin Hannah and parents David and Mamie Ingram Spinks.

She is survived by her daughters; Diane Hannah Blocker (Mike) of Huntsville, AL,
Debbie Hannah Skinner (Carey) of Amarillo, TX, Donna Hannah Tinsley (Joe) of Tuscaloosa, AL, grandchildren; Carol Blocker Bullock (David) of Huntsville, AL, Lindsey Blocker Garmon (Kyle) of Centre, AL, Hannah Skinner King (Justin) of Waco, TX, Cal Tinsley (Jessica) of Hoover, AL, Will Tinsley of Tuscaloosa, AL, and ten great grandchildren.

Margaret Spinks Hannah was born and raised in her beloved Tuscaloosa County. She graduated from Tuscaloosa High School and went on to graduate with a degree in Social Work from Judson College in Marion, AL.
She diligently served as a social worker for Tuscaloosa County for over 40 years and at the end of her career served as head of the Food Stamp Office for Tuscaloosa County.
In 1954, Margaret married the love of her life, Calvin Hannah. They were the loving parents of "the three D's"- Diane, Debbie, and Donna- and built a beautiful life together.

For over two decades of their 54 year marriage, she cared for Calvin as he battled Parkinson's Disease, modeling a depth of faithfulness and devotion that preached an unspoken sermon to her family and friends on what it means to truly love your spouse "for better or for worse." As long as they could do so, she helped Calvin travel and they enjoyed seeing sunsets together all across the USA.

At home, Margaret was usually found in her kitchen. She was a wonderful cook and collector of recipes she could use to nurtured her family around her table with delicious, home cooked food. While in her eighties, for the wedding of her grandson, Cal, she famously baked a record 27 delicious pound cakes for his grooms cake table. She was often seen at her sewing machine as well, making clothes for her children and grandchildren.

Margaret loved to get in her car to go and do and see. She never met a stranger. Her main activities in life centered around, first, her family and, next, her church family at Calvary Baptist Church and her wide circle of friends in the community.
She had a ministry of encouragement to others by sending birthday cards but also had an amazing "ministry of presence" with simply being there- showing up for people she loved. In her favorite role as "Maw" to her grandkids, she could always be spotted cheering in the stands at their sporting events and recitals.

As a young girl, Margaret made a profession of her faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and lived to follow Him. Right now, she is enjoying time in the presence of her Savior at her new permanent address in heaven, and likely singing, "This is the day, this is the day, that the LORD has made..." - her favorite song based on her favorite Bible verse, Psalm 118:24.

Mama told us to just write in her obituary: "She lived. She died." and leave it at that, but she did so much more between 1930 and 2022. Her life was a blessing to many and she has left a huge impact on us all. We can only hope to honor her memory by emulating her love and care to others.

The Hannah family is especially grateful for the assistance provided for our beloved Mama from the following individuals and groups: Dr. John Summerford, her niece, Jane Gilliland Dalton, Linda Smelley and The Waysider staff, Moundville Health and Rehabilitation staff, especially Pam Harris, Brenda Stewart, Lisa Skelton, Cindy Norwood, Cinda Perry, Jerry Elmore, Paul Gartman, Dot Powell, Joe and Joan Armstrong, and the staff of Hospice of West Alabama.

Pallbearers Cal Tinsley, Will Tinsley, David Bullock, Kyle Garmon, Justin King, and Eddie Tinsley.

Honorary Pallbearers Hootie Ingram, Paul Gartman, her sisters in the Fidelis Sunday School class at Calvary Baptist, and the staff of The Waysider Restaurant (her auxiliary kitchen).

In lieu of Flowers the family request donations to Calvary Baptist Church or Big Oak Boy's and Girl's Ranch or Caring Days of Tuscaloosa or Tuscaloosa Regional Center of Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind in Margaret's memory.
Another thing you could do in her honor is if you happen to see a little white haired lady sitting alone at a restaurant one day, secretly pick up the tab for her bill. Countless folks did that for her over the past few years and it was a great delight for her to share the tale of her latest "free meal" with her kids. It also lessened the sting of dining alone.