Margaret Ann Purvis Glading

May 10, 1945 – July 18, 2026

Margaret Purvis Glading, died peacefully at the Marshes of Skidaway Island’s Health Center on July 18, 2026. Margaret was born at Oglethorpe Sanitarium, Savannah, Georgia on May 10, 1945, to Joseph David (JD) Purvis, Sr., and Dorothy (Dot) Debele Purvis. The pregnancy was difficult causing Dot and JD to move from New York to Savannah to be close to family. Margaret was named after her mother’s sister Margaret “Peg” Debele Maner, also from Savannah.

Margaret’s family moved often as her father moved up the ranks in the Federal Government. She studied ballet for several years and was a proficient piano player. Margaret was an excellent student despite having to move. She graduated from Winchester High School (Winchester, Massachusetts) in 1963. In 1965, after having attended the University of Georgia for two years, she decided to become a Stewardess and was hired by United Airlines. She loved being based out of New York, Washington DC, Miami, and San Francisco, while fulfilling her dream of living a glamorous life traveling the world. She enjoyed a 38-year career with United Airlines where she had the opportunity to train other flight attendants and serve as Purser on International flights. Although she spoke French fluently, she returned to school to take classes in conversational Japanese and Chinese, just so she would be able to communicate better with her international passengers.

In 1978, Margaret married Peter T. Glading, where she welcomed Gregory and Brent, Peter’s children, into her life. Family was everything to Margaret. Her trademark when sending correspondence would be to sign her name with a stick figure, arms stretched with the word “Hugs” across the bottom of the card. Whenever Margaret visited Savannah, she would often set up a “challenge” game. It usually involved trying to determine which chocolate tasted the best, which vanilla ice cream had the best flavor or whose chili was the hottest. She loved hosting family members in her beloved San Francisco, showing them the sites, sometimes heading up to Napa for a few days or signing you up for a challenging Hip Hop class. The first stop when you landed in San Franciso for your visit was to head to Fisherman’s Wharf, where she would pick up Dungeness crab and sourdough bread for dinner.

Shortly after retiring from United, Margaret moved to Savannah to be closer to family. Once settled, she quickly got involved in the community. She headed to the tennis courts several times a week, beating pretty much everyone she played against, enjoyed joining friends for a picnic at Delegal Marina at the Landings, and rocking the babies at Memorial’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Margaret also loved the Arts. Her home was filled with artwork from around the world, with a distinctive Asian influence. While volunteering at the Savannah Music

Festival office, the staff discovered she had the most beautiful handwriting, so they recruited her to address all their invitations to special events. She later joined The Landing’s LOVE group, where Margaret spent time helping children at Garrison Elementary learn how to read. During this time, she felt a call to help a few children outside of the group by arranging & sponsoring individual tutoring at the Royce Center. She even found a couple of travel buddies that helped keep her sense of adventure alive, even as her disease progressed. She was also part of a wonderful group of neighbors who called themselves the Yaya’s.

Margaret was gracious, elegant, funny, and intelligent. She was full of grace and kindness and had no idea how beautiful she was, both inside and out. Margaret battled Parkinson’s Disease Dementia for close to 15 years with strength and courage. She faced each challenge with her health head on. She never backed down and kept looking for a solution to fix her disease. She was courageous and fought to the end with grace and humor.

Margaret is survived by her siblings, Joseph “David” Purvis, Jr (Rhonda) of Martinsville, VA; Susan Purvis Reese (Mike) of Savannah, GA and John Debele Purvis (DeeAnne) of Savannah, GA; step-children Gregory Glading (Gina) of Polk City, FL and Brent Glading (Jan) of Bonita Springs, FL; her niece Michelle Waters McMullan (Jimmy) of Albuquerque, NM; and her nephews Michael David Waters (LeighAnne) of Marshall, NC; Jeremy Purvis (Renee) of Martinsville, VA; Joseph Purvis III (Crystal) of Martinsville, VA; and Jacob Purvis (Janeen) of Lynchburg, VA; several nieces, nephews & cousins; and several special friends and neighbors.

The family is grateful for all the love and care given to Margaret, especially in her last year, from the staff at The Marshes of Skidaway Island, Coastal Care Partners, Loving You More at Home and Hospice Savannah. As well as her steadfast & faithful caregivers, Erica Beard, Eboni Lee, and Janice Milledge.

Join us for Margaret’s Graveside Service on Friday, August 28th, at 11:00am, Bonaventure Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will take place after the graveside service at the Marshes of Skidaway Island at the Island Club in the Oglethorpe Room, from 1:00pm-3:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances are invited to the Caro Lane Scholarship Fund, Georgia Southern University Foundation, 1332 Southern Drive, Statesboro, GA 30458; The Fresh Air Home, PO Box 14144, Savannah, GA 31416; Hospice Savannah, PO Box 13190, Savannah, GA 31416; The Royce School, 4 Oglethorpe Professional Blvd., Savannah, GA 31406; or your favorite charity.