Margaret Evelyn Green-Witt

The Rev Mrs. Margaret Green-Witt, age 102, died on 11/27/2022 at Lake Port Square. Margaret was born in Frankford, Philadelphia, PA on February 20, 1920. Because the hospital in that area was quarantined for Measles, she was delivered by a mid-wife in her grandmother's bedroom. Her parents, long since dead, were Anna Watson Hale Ashmead and Robert H Ashmead, Jr.  Her family was blessed by the birth of a son two years later. He died at the age of 38 in California.

Margaret graduated from Frankford High School in 1938. In 1943 she volunteered for service in the Women's Army Corps, with basic training in Ft. Oglethorpe, GA, training at a school in Nagadoches, Texas for the Adjutant Generals Department in the U.S. Army. She served in Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, trained for overseas duty at Ft. Oglethorpe, GA, shipped to Camp Stoneman in California, boarded the SS Matsonia, arriving in Brisbane, Australia, three weeks later.

She also served in Hollandia, New Guinea, Leyte, PI, and Manila, PI.

Margaret E Ashmead and David V. Green were married in June of 1945 in Manila, PI by the Chief of Chaplains, GHQ, South West Pacific Area.

Margaret and David were blessed by four children, David, Kenneth (Deceased), Victoria (Deceased) and Suzanne.

In 1968, Margaret, Now divorced from David, opened an art needlework shop in Moorestown, NJ which she maintained for 10 years. Her children were now all liberated, so she attended a years residential course at General Episcopal Seminary in Chelsea, New York City.  While in New York, she also received her BS in Science from Empire State College, specializing in US Religious History.

Once in New York City, it was difficult to leave , so she accepted a position with the Seminary as a fund raiser. After three years, $12 million dollars was raised and she was out of the job.  Just up 9th Avenue was the Church of the Holy Apostles, Episcopal and they needed a coordinator for a proposed soup kitchen. This job was very intense, so she only lasted a year in the position. Then came the big Cheese Giveaway and Margaret was hired as Manhattan Borough Coordinator. The homeless and food situation worsened and Mayor Koch designated One Million Dollars to rectify the gloomy outlook. Because of her experience at Holy Apostles, she was transferred to the new operation as assistant to the chief administrator.

In 1991 her father became ill and the two of them moved to Florida.  Mr. Ashmead was 92 at the time.

Margaret entered training for the Diaconate shortly after her arrival in Florida, serving as Deacon at St Andrew's Episcopal Church in Spring Hill, Hernando County, FL.

Margaret served as Chaplain in many organizations, including two summers in the Volunteer Christian Ministry in the National Parks (Glacier and Yellowstone), Daughters of the American Revolution and most recently Lake Port Resident Council, also Episcopal Church Women at St James Episcopal Church in Leesburg.

She is survived by two children, David and Suzanne along with a granddaughter Michaela (Justin). She has also been supported by her husband Kenneth's family, who are numerous and loving.

The family is requesting that all of the guest at the service wear colors (not black) so Margaret can look down and see a garden of color at the celebration of her life.

Also, it is requested that in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to St. James Episcopal Church 204 Lee St, Leesburg, FL 34748.