Mrs. Margaret Denton Ashton, 89, retired Culleoka Postmaster, long-time resident of School Street in Culleoka and recently of The Bridge in Columbia, died Sunday, February 18, 2007 at NHC Hill-view. Funeral services were conducted at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday Feb 20, 2007 at Oakes & Nichols with her grandson-in-law Jay Thornell and David Dault officiating . Burial was in the Friendship Cemetery in Culleoka beside her life mate. The family visited with friends Monday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Central Presbyterian Church, c/o Wayman Andrews, 2607 Culleoka Highway, Culleoka 38451 or Columbia Academy Pre-School, 1101 West 7th Street, Columbia 38401.
Margaret was a native of the Glendale Community in Maury County, and the daughter of the late Aude Matthews and Ruth (Galloway) Denton and a 1936 graduate of Culleoka High School. She was a long-time member of Central Presbyterian Church, where she taught the Women's Sunday School Class for 31 years. Mrs. Ashton retired in 1979 after 38 years as Culleoka Postmaster. In 1941, she was appointed Postmaster, the youngest in the Nation at the time. In 1961, she was appointed Trainer Postmaster for Middle Tennessee, and trained some 80 Postmasters over the years. At the 1965 National Convention of the National League of District Postmasters in St. Paul, Minnesota, she was named "Postmaster of the Year." She received the Superior National Achievement Award and the Special Achievement Award from the U. S. Postal Service. Two of her suggestions were adopted by the Postal Service upgrading efficiency in the system.
She was a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.
An avid interest in history and genealogy inspired her participation in several organizations including a 57-year membership in the Jane Knox Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. which she served in numerous capacities, including two terms as Regent and was a member of the Capt. James Madison Sparkman Chapter, UDC.
She was very active in the Maury County Historical Society included serving as Associate Editor, with Virginia Alexander, Editor, of MAURY COUNTY REMEMBERS WORLD WAR II, a publication of the Society and serving as a volunteer for the Society's Loose Records Project, saving valuable Maury County records from 1807 to 1874 and placing them on CD-ROM for safe-keeping.
Mrs. Ashton was active in the Culleoka Community Club; served as a member of the Maury County Library Board; was appointed a member of the Advisory Committee of the State Department of Public Welfare in Maury County and served as a Director of the Maury County Mental Health Association.
She was a newspaper correspondent for THE DAILY HERALD from 1958-1965 as writer of the weekly column, "Culleoka Chatter."
Margaret & her husband Harvell resided many years on School Street in Culleoka Tennessee.
She was married November 8, 1938 to Harvell James Ashton, who preceded her in death November 7, 1998. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and Jimmy Thompson of Culleoka and a granddaughter, Diana (Jay) Thornell of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; a great-granddaughter, Liz Thornell of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and a grandson-in-law Jerry Knox of Culleoka. She was preceded in death by, a granddaughter, Maria Thompson Knox and a brother Carl Denton.
Active pallbearers were Jacky Thompson, Jimmy Williams, Jason Hardison. Robert Thompson, Randall Rummage, and David Dault. Honorary pallbearers included Waymon Andrews, Bill Harris, Hardin Voss, and Hayes Cathey.
Obituary sent in by Margaret's dear friend Virginia Alexander. It was transcribed from Obituary originally published in "The Columbia Daily Herald and modified to past tense along with other additions by Wayne Austin 3/15/07.
I also count it an honor to have met & conversed with this grand lady in my lifetime. Wayne Austin, Site Administrator.
