Margaret Lorraine Chatham Ammons

Margaret Lorraine Chatham Ammons (79) of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina died on January 7, 2025.

She was born on January 19, 1945, to Robert Lee Chatham Sr. and Mary Lee Bowers Chatham in Brevard County, Florida, where her father was stationed at Banana River Naval Base. Margaret spent her childhood in Cayce, South Carolina, before her family moved to Myrtle Beach in her junior year of high school. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Winthrop College in 1967 and was pursuing a doctorate in English at the University of South Carolina when the death of her father-in-law prompted Margaret and her former husband Cornelius “Neil” Jason Ammons Jr. to return to Myrtle Beach. 

Margaret said that her greatest achievement was raising her two daughters, Leigh Chatham Ammons Meese (married to David Wendell Meese Jr.) and Tena Lorraine Ammons (married to Jody Wayne Ammons) and that her greatest joy was being Grandma to her five grandchildren: Jacob Lee Ammons, Robert Brady Meese (married to Caroline Hanna Fairey Meese), Margaret Ann Ammons, Allen Andrew Meese, and Grayson Joshua Ammons.   

Margaret is survived by her daughters, her sisters Linda Chatham Vereen and Betty Chatham Ellison, as well as brother-in-law Steve Ammons, and sister-in-law Martha (“Marty”) Ammons Bohnenberger and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.  She was predeceased by her parents, her brother Robert Lee Chatham Jr., and sister-in-law Mary Edna “Chick” Ammons Pitts.

As co-leader of her daughters’ Junior Girl Scout troop, Margaret assisted with projects, trips, meetings, fundraisers, and more; it was her work with the troop toward the achievement of the Family History merit badge that sparked a love for genealogical research. Thereafter, she was frequently found huddled over historical society records in her home library. She spent countless hours exploring South Carolina cemeteries and met many new friends and distant relatives tracking down leads on a branch of her family tree.

Margaret enjoyed handcrafts including crocheting, quilting, and sewing, and was able to whip up costumes, curtains, baby quilts, and blankets for her children and grandchildren. Margaret was also a world explorer and enjoyed family trips to many countries as well as active vacations to snow ski, raft the rapids of the Grand Canyon, and co-captain sailboats for family vacations to the islands.

Margaret valued the lifelong friendships she made as a founding member of the Deerfield Book Club, a regular attendee of the Wednesday Lunch Bunch, and a member emeritus of the Archibald Rutledge Club.

A memorial service is planned for her birthday, January 19, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at Surfside United Methodist Church.  Family and friends are invited to Leigh’s home after the service.  A private interment will take place at Ocean Woods Memorial Cemetery at a later date. 

Margaret was a generous supporter of many philanthropic pursuits. Donations in her memory to the organization of your choice will be greatly appreciated.

To view the church's live stream please go to https://youtube.com/live/6trb9CeDKRg?feature=share

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Margaret Lorraine Chatham Ammons, please visit our floral store.