Age 90 of Southfield. Died November 12, 2010. Beloved wife of the late Robert. Loving mother of Philip Blanton of Bakersfield, CA and Bruce (Tania) of Franklin, MI. Dear grandmother of Charles Blanton and Henry Blanton of Wilmington, NC and Anne Ball-Blanton of Clinton Twp., MI. Sister-in-law of J.W. Blanton of Thomasville, GA. Also survived by many caring nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.


Maggie was born in Grand Rapids, MI on September 23, 1920 and graduated from Michigan State College (now MSU) in 1942. She and her future husband met in Traverse City, MI where she was teaching at the local high school and he was stationed with the U.S. Navy. After WWII ended, they eventually moved to the Detroit area where Maggie worked for Ford Motor Company and then as the office manager for her husband's insurance business; Exchange Group Underwriters, which serviced the construction industry. Upon retirement, Maggie and her husband moved first to St. Croix U. S. Virgin Islands and later to Thomasville, GA, where she was active as a Docent at the Thomas County Historical Society and a proud member of the D.A.R. She returned to Michigan to be with family in 2005. Maggie was a voracious reader who developed her life long love of the written word and learning new things at an early age. She was known for her sense of humor and ability to always see the glass as half-full, despite the circumstances. She loved her cats, feeding her songbirds, was a competitive Scrabble player and an avid gardener and sports fan who loyally cheered for the Spartans, Red Wings and Tigers.

Interment of cremated remains with late husband in Thomasville, GA.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Michigan Humane Society, 30300 Telegraph Road, Ste. 220, Bingham Farms, MI; Leader Dogs for the Blind, 1039 South Rochester Road, Rochester, MI 48307; or the Thomas County Historical Society, P.O. Box 1922, Thomasville, GA 31799.