WILMINGTON — Mrs. Margaret Smathers Austin, 100, beloved mother and grandmother, died Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012 in Wilmington. She was born on Aug. 30, 1912 in Summerville, S.C., the daughter of Henry Augustus Smathers and Minnie Lee Brooks Smathers. She was preceded in death by her cherished husband, Kermit Elmo Austin.

She spent her childhood in Charleston, S.C. and was a proud alumnus of Ashley Hall. Later she attended Greensboro College in Greensboro. She and Kermit lived in Clinton until his death and were devoted members of the First United Methodist Church. Later, Margaret moved to Wrightsville Beach and was a member of St. Andrews On-the-Sound Episcopal Church and St. James Episcopal Church in Wilmington, serving on the altar guilds.

As a widow she lived for decades on Wrightsville Beach as a year-round resident, and loved the adventurous life of the beach. She was an avid reader and gardener, and was a lifelong member of local gardening, book, and bridge clubs in Wilmington, as well as a longstanding member of the Cape Fear Country Club.

She was a bookkeeper at GOGAS, the family business, from the late seventies until 2008, driving herself to work each day well into her nineties.

She will be remembered for her unconditional love towards her family, her strength in times of adversity, and her service to family, friends, and the churches and organizations to which she belonged.

She is survived by her two children, Kermit Elmo Austin Jr. and wife. Debbie, Wilmington, and Gail Smathers Austin, Santa Rosa, Calif.; her three grandchildren, Tyler Brooks Austin, New Orleans, La.; Kermit Elmo Austin III and wife, Lindsay, Wilmington; and James Phillip Dorroll and wife, Olivia, Wilmington; and one great-grandchild, Dylan Limaneck, Sonoma, Calif.

A memorial service will be held at Global River Church, 4702 South College Road, Wilmington, on Sunday, Nov. 18, at 3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to, House of Mercy, GRC, 4702 South College Road, Wilmington, NC, 28412.