Margaret Cole McGinnis

DATELINE: KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA

Margaret Cole McGinnis

Margaret Cole McGinnis joined the church triumphant on January 6, 2026 at the age of 98. She was born on March 3, 1927 to Dee Christopher (D.C.) Cole and Fay Best Cole in Forest City, North Carolina. She is survived by her daughter Myra McGinnis of Kings Mountain NC, son Greg McGinnis and daughter-in-law Kathleen Jordan of Charlotte NC, granddaughters Lindsay McGinnis, Charlotte NC, Emma McGinnis, Mount Holly NC, Kathleen’s daughter Gabrielle Tornatore, Cary NC, sister-in-law Kate Cole of Lincolnville Maine, sister-in-law Doris McGinnis of Kings Mountain NC, several cousins, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Margaret was preceded in death by her husband Richard “Dick” McGinnis, her parents, and her siblings and their spouses, Roger Cole (Dot), Ben Cole (Lois), and Helen Cole Krause (Jack), all of Forest City NC, and John Owen Cole of Annapolis, Maryland and Lincolnville, Maine. Margaret’s life was full of music. She graduated from Appalachian State University at the age of 20 with a bachelor’s degree in music education. After teaching music for four years in Elkin NC, she attended the George Peabody School of Education at Vanderbilt University and completed a master’s degree in music education. She then taught high school chorus and elementary school music in the Kings Mountain District School System and was the choir director at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church. In 1961, she began a 30-year career in the Gaston County School system, culminating as Director of the Arts, with responsibility for all elementary, junior high, and high school band, chorus, dance, drama, and art programs. She had the privilege of giving the gift of a teaching career to scores of college graduates seeking their first teaching job. She was also a respected and valued mentor to many band directors, choral directors, and music, dance, drama and art teachers. In recognition of her professional achievements, Margaret was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by the governor of North Carolina in 2018. Margaret was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity and a charter member of the Beta Epsilon and Delta Tau chapters of Delta Kappa Gamma. She enjoyed the friendship and camaraderie of fellow members of Delta Kappa Gamma, the Col. Frederick Hambright Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Kings Mountain Woman’s Club, garden clubs, and book clubs. She was a proud grandmother and was affectionately called “Grambo” by her granddaughters when they were young.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, January 12, 2026 at 2:00 pm at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Kings Mountain NC. Visitation will be from 12:30 pm to 1:50 pm at the church. Donations in Margaret’s memory may be made to St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 201 N. Piedmont Avenue, Kings Mountain NC 28086 or to VIA Health Partners, 951 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby NC 28150, designated for Hospice Cleveland County.

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