Margaret Louise Akers

Margaret Louise Stella Akers, 86, of Brandon, MS, passed away on Saturday, June 12, 2021, at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS with family members by her side.

A visitation for family and friends will be held at Ott & Lee Funeral Home, Brandon, MS on Thursday, June 17, 2021, from 11:00am to 1:00pm which will be followed by a celebration of life service at 1:00pm officiated by Bro. Jeff Walker in the Ott & Lee Chapel. Pallbearers at the Brandon funeral service will be grandsons Nathaniel “Nate” Akers, Jared Akers, Daniel Gray, Keith Manuel, Bart Crain and Brett Crain. The following day, June 18, 2021, a visitation for family and friends will be held at Emerson Funeral Home in Jonesboro, AR, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, which will be followed by a graveside service at Pine Log Cemetery, Brookland, AR officiated by Bro. Jeff Walker. Margaret will be laid to rest beside her husband of 50 years, Paul N. Akers at Pine Log Cemetery, Brookland, AR. Pallbearers at the graveside service will be grandsons Nathaniel “Nate” Akers, Jared Akers, Keith Manuel, Jacob Harrison, Ryan Harrison, Todd Gill, Justin Hill and Tyler Brady.

Margaret was born July 14, 1934 in Friars Point, MS to a family of Italian immigrant sharecroppers. She learned how to work in the cotton fields of the Mississippi Delta at the early age of eight.  Combining the work ethics and values inspired by her family and her natural intelligence and strength, she matured to become not only a mother to eleven children, but a very successful business woman in an era when most women didn’t work outside the home, much less own their own business. Margaret was a long-time resident of Jonesboro, AR, moving there with her husband Paul and their eleven children in the early 1960’s and living there until 1984. In Jonesboro, she tirelessly built a stable home for her children and instilled the importance of family. At the same time, she became a ground breaker in the answering service business, owning Telephone Answering Service of Jonesboro and becoming a leader in the answering service industry.

In 1984, Margaret and husband, Paul, moved to Brandon, MS, where she continued to reside until her death. After moving to Brandon, Margaret was once again involved in the answering service business as a co-owner and manager of AnswerStat!, Jackson, MS until she retired at the end of 1992. After her retirement, Margaret worked for several years as a substitute teacher in the Puckett, MS schools and helped her husband establish an export business to Central America. She was a long-time member of Grace Baptist Church, Brandon, MS. She was widely known as an excellent cook and family dinner at her house, especially on Sundays and holidays, was always a special treat not to be missed.

In her last years, dementia stole many of her short-term memories, but she always remembered how much she loved the Lord and babies. She spread His word to anyone who would listen and could calm a baby with a soothing touch. She knew how to “work a room” and had the talent to make people around her laugh, smile, and to feel motivated and loved. She will be remembered with love and a smile by her children as “Mom,” her grandchildren as either “Mimi, Momma, or Grams” and her great-grandchildren as “Gigi.”

Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Paul N. Akers; mother, Rosie Stella Hollowell; grandparents Angelina Giosa (Jose) Stella and Charlie Stella; son, Charles R. “Rusty” Akers; daughters Judith Akers Hannah and Paula Akers Gill; grandson, Andrew Nicholas Walker; and granddaughter, Christi Crain Garland.

She is survived by five daughters:  Carol Akers Crain (Garry) of Louisville, TN, Dottie Akers Brady (Mike) of Lonoke, AR, Katherine Akers Gray (John) of Brandon, MS, Joyce Akers Walker of Brandon, MS, Elizabeth Akers Harrison (David) of Water Valley, MS and three sons: Charles Anthony Manuel of Canton, MS, Michael A. Akers (Anita) of Brandon, MS and Clifton P. Akers (Mika) of Brandon, MS; twenty-two grandchildren and thirty-eight great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Grace Baptist Church, Brandon, MS, The Mind Center at UMMC, the Alzheimer’s Association or other charity.

You may share condolences at www.ottandlee.com.