Margaret Louise (Adkins) Lightsey

A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered.  Please join us in mourning the passing of Margaret L. Lightsey, of Gadsden, AL who traded time for eternity on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at the age of 91.  

Margaret Louise Lightsey was born September 18, 1932, in Gadsden, Alabama to the late Thomas and Alabama Eve Glover Adkins, Sr. She was the youngest of ten children and was baptized as a young child at St. John Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

Margaret attended the public school in Gadsden and graduated at the age of 15.  

She met and married the late Frank Herring, Jr., in 1949 and they had five children.

Margaret relocated to Buffalo, New York in the early 1970s, where she worked at International Branded Apparel and eventually retired after 15 years.

In 1989, she married Reverend Joseph H. Lightsey, a Pastor in the 7th Episcopal District of the CME Church of Monroe, North Carolina where Margaret led and served as the First Lady, Sunday School Teacher, and Missionary. 

She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Rev. Joseph H Lightsey; three of her children, James Herring, Gerard Herring, and Reverend Sudealia Douthard; her siblings, Thom Adkins, Terrell Adkins, Robert ‘Bob’ Adkins, James ‘Bill’ Adkins, Fronie Wright, Catherine Hoyt, and Beulah Mae Thomas.

Margaret returned to Gadsden, Alabama following the passing of her husband in the early 2000s and she entered her eternal rest in the early morning hours of September 11, 2024, at her home.

Margaret leaves to cherish her memory, two sons, Douglas (Lois) Herring of Battle Creek, Michigan and Roderick Herring of Buffalo, New York; eight grandchildren, Kamilah Douthard of Gadsden, Alabama, Shayna (Dontavious) Macon of Ohatchee, Alabama, Boonikka Herring of Battle Creek, Michigan, Doug (Katie) Herring of East Leroy, Michigan, Chad Bishop of Long Beach, California, Sharla Herring of Dothan, Alabama, Carmen Herring of Huntsville, Alabama, and Hailey Herring of Buffalo, New York; two bonus children Phoebe Lightsey of  Detroit, Michigan, and Dr. Joseph Lightsey, Durham, North Carolina; bonus grandchildren, Charlie Wright and Chris French of Buffalo, New York, Joseph Lightsey and Chaitra Lightsey of Durham, North Carolina, Rona Mensah of Fredrick, Maryland, and Marie Lightsey of Detroit, Michigan; two daughters-in-love, Claudette Herring of Dothan, Alabama and Belinda Herring of Buffalo, New York; a devoted caregiver, Veronica Brasher; 13 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

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