Margaret Lois Merrell Heller

Mrs. Heller received her angel wings on October 1, 2026, after a brief illness. The cause of death was respiratory failure. Born in Auburn, New York on July 22, 1939, to parents Ralph Merrell and Clarice Bonita Whitlock Merrell. Mrs. Heller lived in Wolcott, New York until adulthood. She was a long-time resident of James Island, South Carolina. Folly Beach was one of her favorite places.

Margaret was deeply loved by her husband John Graham Heller II since 2009. Mrs. Heller wished to warmly acknowledge her husband's children Katherine LaRue Hyman (Richard) and her son Rutledge Hyman and her brother John Graham Heller III. Margaret had two children from her first marriage to Richard Davidson, Lisa Davidson Bachan (Winston) and Andrew Jon Davidson (Emma). She had three grandchildren Victoria Bachan Soroka (Ryan), Sage Martin and Jake Martin. There were three men who considered Margaret their mother from her second marriage to Albert Joseph Martin: Stan Martin (2022), Geoff Albert Martin and William Albert Martin. There are other family members that she also wished to warmly acknowledge: Frank Lee (Samanda), Chi Kang Lee (Igor) and Chi Shein Lee (Tracy) and their daughter Zoey. She leaves behind many other relatives. Her only brother, Wayne (Monique) predeceased her.

Margaret had many passions and came from a well-educated family. She loved music, flowers, her family singing, her church and nature. When she studied at the College of Wooster her major was music (piano). She also played the clarinet and the oboe. After transferring to the University of Rhode Island she graduated with a bachelor's degree in home economics and minored in music. She later went back to school for law studies at the Roger Williams Extension Project which later became the Roger Williams School of Law. There were a number of other certificates within the Human Resources category because she retired from Kent County Memorial Hospital as a Human Resources Executive.

Prior to her work in Human Resources, she was a social worker before becoming a stay-at-home mom. Later she worked as Activities Director in a nursing home, supervisor of the Dietary Department at Kent County Memorial Hospital. Later in post-retirement she was the office manager at the office of Dr. James Decker. Beyond her professional career she lent her considerable talents to church choirs, volunteering at Roper Hospital, other 501 C3 organizations, Guardian Ad Litem and founding member of the Spoleto Festival (for the Arts). All the while she managed to grow a stunning flower and vegetable garden.

Her memorial service will be at the First Scots Presbyterian Church 53 Meeting Street, Historic Charleston, SC 29401. It will take place on Sunday October 11, 2026, at 2:00 pm with a reception to follow in the Molly Weir Hall. Flowers are welcome because she loved all flowers but in lieu of flowers donations can be made to the church or to the Spoleto USA organization. There will be two ash spreading ceremonies to be scheduled at a later time.