Margaret Fulkerson

By Staff, 07/27/21 5:10 PM

Most people who have met Margaret never knew her history.  She was a truly remarkable woman. Between the ages of ten and twelve Margaret suffered from tremendous headaches. Her uncle was working in the newly developing field of x-ray, and he planned for Margaret to be x-rayed. They found a brain tumor.  At the age of thirteen. Margaret had brain surgery in the early 1930’s. Of all the unknown side effects of the surgery, Margaret lost her eyesight. Thank God, that was the only disabling result following the surgery.  Being blind at an early age was challenging. However, Margaret credits her mother, Nona Vines, for nursing her through the surgery and recovery. About a year following the surgery Margaret was then enrolled into the School for the Blind in Little Rock, Arkansas. After graduating from The School for the Blind she was accepted into Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas. Margaret graduated from Arkansas Tech in the top 10thpercentile of her class.

Margaret met the love of her life, Burl Fulkerson and they married in 1952. After graduation from Arkansas Tech, Margaret taught school teaching blind students. In the early 1950’s Margaret moved to Dallas where she worked for the Lighthouse for the Blind. She then moved to Lubbock, Texas in the early 1960’s to work for the Texas State Commission for the Blind. Margaret trained people who had recently lost their vision to assimilate and accommodate to their newly lost eyesight and acquired disability. Margaret traveled the State of Texas extensively. Margaret retired from the Texas State Commission for the Blind in the late 1990’s. During Margaret’s tenure with the Texas State Commission for the Blind, Margaret was named Employee of the Year.

Following Margaret’s retirement in Lubbock, Texas, she moved back to her roots in Hope, Arkansas. She was a die-hard Texas Tech Red Raiders fan and Texas Rangers fan. Sirus XM made a fortune off her.  Margaret had a beautiful house in Lubbock. When she arrived in Hope, Margaret built a beautiful house specifically to her wishes and spectacularly decorated it, with a matching manicured landscaping. Margaret was often told I wish you could see how beautiful your home looks.  Margaret was the subject of local news articles and events.  Even in Margaret’s Assisted Living apartment she used a decorator to design her apartment’s ambience. Margaret was a warm, lovable, and hospitable person to whom people naturally gravitated toward.

Margaret possessed an unwavering love towards her Lord and Savior despite her disability. Never faulting God for her disability of being blind. Just the opposite, Margaret constantly thanked and praised God for taking care of hereveryday of her life that God allowed her to live in this life we shared with her.

Margaret, your family, and friends pray that you are now seeking a beauty at leased equivalent to what each of us saw in you, during your time here with us on earth. Margaret, we will miss you all the world. And we pray your future is so bright that you are not required to wear sunglasses to appreciate the beauty that surrounds you and the rewards you’re work on earth has earned you.

Margaret was preceded in death by Earl Vines, Paris Vines, Fred Vines, Jean (Vines) Dockery, and Bill Vines.

Survivors include numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews, great grand nieces, and great grand nephews.

Visitation will be 1:00 pm Wednesday, July 28, 2021, at Herndon-Fuqua Funeral Home. Chapel services will follow at 2:00pm.  Interment will be held at Bodcaw #1 Cemetery, under the direction of Herndon-Fuqua Funeral Home of Hope.

We also invite you to express your public condolences at www.herndonfuquafuneralhomes.com or private Letters of Love at www.herndonfuquafuneralhomes.com/page/letters-of-love.