Margaret A. Wiley Redd

Margaret Ann Gambrell Wiley Redd, daughter of the late Calvin Gambrell and late Alberta Davis, was born in Greenville, South Carolina on May 5, 1939. Early on Tuesday morning, December 23, 2003, Margaret eased away from this life.Margaret’s story begins as a young girl being raised by her father and Aunt Carrie in Greenville. By the age of twelve, she moved to Baltimore, Maryland to be with her mother another siblings. She attended public schools, earning her GED, and later in life to obtain a two-year college degree in Medical Secretarial Science from Stratford Schools. By the age of thirteen, she met a young man who would become her husband and father of her children. This person was Walter W. (“Sonny”) Wiley. They were married in Baltimore in 1955 and by 1962 had all of their five children. Early in their union, “Ann” (as she was called by family and friends) and “Sonny” learned about Jehovah and his promised Kingdom for mankind. They were both baptized and dedicated their lives to Jehovah and teaching others of the “ good news.” It was something to behold on Sunday mornings to see this young couple getting together five little children to go to the Kingdom Hall.Margaret held many jobs over the years. She worked as a Nursing Assistant at Johns Hopkins Hospital; Secretary for Hospital Workers Union 1199E; Medical Secretary at Wyman Park Hospital; and retired from a position as a Private Duty Nursing Assistant for the Campbell’s who developed the White Marsh area.As it happens sometimes in this system, Ann and Sonny parted ways in 1980.At a second stage in her life, Margaret met Earl D. Redd, Sr., where of course, the Kingdom Hall. They were married in 1982. With Earl’s five children and Margaret’s five children, it was a new version of the Brady Bunch.Margaret was known by many names, “Ann,” “Momma,” “Shorty,” but the one that she cherished the most was “Granny.” Margaret doted on her grandchildren. She was always telling everyone about their accomplishments. When her daughter fell into difficulty. Margaret was right there to take in four of her grandchildren and became their legal guardian. It was no easy task raising adolescents and teenagers again, but Margaret was only to eager to do so.“Granny” had many hobbies. She liked to read, to listen to good music, going to theatrical productions, but most of all she loved to cook. Granny never wanted to see anyone hungry. She had almost every kind of cooking utensil, pot or pan. She tried all kinds of recipes. You could always eat at “Granny’s” house.Margaret was an all around beautiful person. Her love for others made her even more beautiful. There was nothing that she would not do to help another if she could. Anyone who met her knew right away how special she was. You could not help but be drawn into her smile and soft manner. Even in the midst of her illness, she was a pillar of dignity and grace, while showing constant concern for others around her.Margaret will be missed immensely by her family and friends. Her loving family includes: her husband, Earl Redd, Sr.; her children, Robin (Wiley) Jacobs, Calvin Wiley, Dinah Wiley, Vincent Wiley, and Miriam (Wiley) Lewis; stepchildren: Earl, Jr., Ramon, Lynwood, Andre, and Defriesa Redd; her grandchildren: Maria (Anderson, Shasta Holloway, Angela (Lewis) Oygard, Kristina Lewis, Jason Wiley, Toisha Wiley, Calvin Wiley, Jr., and Galeisha Wiley; step-grandchildren: Katherine and Kayla; and three great-grandchildren: jasmine, Diamond and Dominique; her siblings: Birdie Stokes, Dorothy Mills, Wallace Williams, Larry Davis, Clifton Hicks, and a whole host of other family members, that include her Aunt Carrie in South Carolina. Margaret was especially fond of her nephew Reginald Gambrell and her son-in-law Robert “Gene” Jacobs.

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Margaret A. Wiley Redd

May 5, 1939 - December 23, 2003