Margaret Cottle Brogdon

Margaret Cottle Brogdon, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully at home and surrounded by her family at the age of 67 on February 28, 2024.

Margaret was born in Tallassee, Alabama, on October 13, 1956, to John I. Cottle Jr. and Ella Ruth Gauntt Cottle. Her father was the local dentist, and her mother worked in their home raising their three children, John, Margaret, and Charles. Margaret attended Tallassee High School, where she played the clarinet and oboe in the band, was the color guard captain, participated in the theatre program, and excelled as editor of the Tallassee High School newspaper. She was also a member of her local Brownie and Girl Scout troops - groups led by her mother - and was a competitive swimmer. She graduated from high school in 1975.

Margaret was an active member of Tallassee’s First United Methodist Church, where her father was the organist, and her mother was a soloist in the choir. As a member of the church, Margaret achieved 14 years of perfect attendance in Sunday school, even when that meant that Mrs. Cottle drove the Sunday school class to the Cottle house and served hot chocolate because Margaret was, in fact, too ill to attend Sunday school at the church.

As a church member, Margaret especially enjoyed her work with the Conference Council on Youth Ministry, in which she served as youth lay member to the annual conference for her congregation, and as Youth Service Fund Coordinator for the Alabama-West Florida conference. 

Upon graduating from high school, Margaret attended Vanderbilt University for one year before transferring to Auburn University. At Auburn she completed her undergraduate degree with a major in English, graduating Phi Kappa Phi. She was a member of Sigma Tau Delta, the National English Honor Society, and Pi Delta Phi, the National French Honor Society. She also served as chair of the Auburn University Speaker’s Bureau, an organization responsible for bringing nationally recognized speakers to the Auburn student body. After graduation, she went on to Duke University, where she earned a Masters of Education.

Margaret was passionate about education, and in addition to being a devoted life-long learner, she was a dedicated and gifted educator. After completing her own formal education, she began her teaching career as an English teacher at St. Pius X Catholic High School in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Margaret continued her career in education at a number of schools throughout the Southeast until finding what would become her professional home at Stratford Academy in Macon, Georgia, where she served first as an English teacher and later as a poised and thoughtful administrator in her role as Upper School Principal - a position she held for 23 years until her retirement in 2019. Through her years of service at Stratford she attended countless sporting events, concerts, and performances. She steadfastly supported faculty, lovingly guided students, and compassionately counseled Stratford families. She saw Stratford through several periods of transition, striving always to make the school a more inclusive and welcoming space and working tirelessly to ensure that Stratford lived up to its ideals and mission.   

In addition to her service as an educator, Margaret served the Macon community in a number of capacities throughout the years. Having volunteered for many years at Macon Outreach at Mulberry she accepted a position as Executive Director of that program, where she served from 1988 to 1990. As a Mulberry church member, she served as chair of the Staff Parish Relations Committee, a member of the finance committee, a Sunday school teacher, and a soprano in the choir. She also served as chair of the administrative board of the Wesley Foundation of Macon. During her time as a member of Centenary United Methodist Church, she served as chair of the committee established to create and monitor safety protocols to mitigate risks to the congregation resulting from the Covid 19 pandemic. Margaret was also an avid reader, enthusiastic gardener, gifted host, and great lover of music. 

In 2005 Margaret married Joe Brogdon. They married in the chapel at Mulberry United Methodist Church and went on to enjoy 18 years of loving partnership. During her marriage to Joe, Margaret developed loving relationships with her stepchildren, Georgia, Joseph, and Campbell. 

She was also a loving mother to her daughter, Weldon, attending her endless concerts, games, performances, and recitals. She welcomed Weldon’s partner Benjamin and the two children that he brought into the family with open arms.

Margaret was a devoted grandmother to her six grandchildren: Jake, Collins, Palmer, Hugh, Jasper, and S.V. She loved being their “Maggie.” 

Margaret is survived by her beloved husband, Joseph Milton Brogdon Jr.; her daughter, Ruth Weldon Ledbetter and her partner Benjamin Allen Moore; her stepchildren, Georgia Brogdon Day and her husband Justin Andrew Day, Joseph Milton Brogdon III, Campbell Brogdon Smisson and husband Hugh Franklin Smisson IV; and by her beloved grandchildren, Palmer, Hugh, Jake, Collins, Jasper, and S.V.

Margaret is also survived by her brother Charles Allen Cottle, his wife Sheryl Hancock Cottle, and their children Anna and Peter Cottle; by her sister-in-law Nancy Cottle; her nephew Michael Cottle and his wife Kristin Cottle; and by her grandnieces Sydney and McKenzie Cottle. 

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, John I. Cottle Jr. and Ella Ruth Gauntt Cottle, and her older brother John I. Cottle III. 

A service will be held at Centenary United Methodist Church on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make gifts in memory of Margaret may make a contribution to Centenary United Methodist Church, Stratford Academy, or any other charitable organization close to their heart. The family will greet friends in the fellowship hall following the service. 

Snow’s Memorial Chapel, Bass Road, Macon, GA has charge of the arrangements.