Margaret Ianthia Cottman (Johnson)

Life Reflections Margaret Ianthia Cottman was born on December 3, 1919 to the late Mary Magdelene and Levin James Waters in Worcester County in Pocomoke City, Maryland. After losing her mother at age 7, she was raised by her grandparents. Margaret was educated in the public schools of Somerset and Worcester Counties of Maryland, and graduated from Snow Hill High School, in Worcester County, Maryland in 1939. During World War II, she worked at the Triumph Explosives, Inc. factory in Elkton, MD for many years until she returned to Pocomoke to care for her ailing grandparents. Margaret married Alvin William Cottman on February 23, 1946, and had three children. They moved to Cheltenham, Maryland (Boys Village, a home for delinquent boys) on August 7, 1951. While Alvin worked at Boys Village, she stayed home to raise their children until they were teenagers. In 1965 after her youngest child became a teenager, Margaret decided to further her education. She took typing, bookkeeping, and accounting and received a certificate in all three courses from the Crossland School under the University of Maryland College Park. She began working at Boys Village as a clerk typist on February 7, 1966 and worked her way up to a supply officer, operating the central storeroom for the institution. She retired after (20) years of service on June 30, 1986. Margaret joined the Tindley Chapel Church in Pocomoke, MD during her youth. Upon moving to Cheltenham, MD in 1951, she became a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church and became an active member of the UMC United Methodist Women in 1953. She served as a Sunday School teacher for 24 years and then became the Sunday School treasurer for 13 years. She also helped where ever help was needed at the church for as long as she could. After her retirement from Boy’s Village, she enjoyed traveling. She and her husband traveled by car across the United States twice and also traveled to Canada, Italy, France, and Germany. She had an opportunity to visit all but five of the fifty states, collecting plates from each of them, which she displayed on a wall. Margaret was known as a caregiver and made many sacrifices for her family and friends. She provided daycare for many of the children at Boy’s Village. In addition to caring for her ailing grandparents, she also took care of her father and sister. Margaret took care of her beloved husband for as long as she could before putting him in a nursing home. She visited him frequently while he was in the nursing home to make sure he was being cared for properly. She enjoyed sewing and making clothes for her children. She would often tell stories about the family history. Margaret enjoyed cooking and was known for her chicken-n-dumplings, chitterlings, and sweet potato pie. At one time, St. Paul Church asked her to make 25 pies for a fish dinner fundraiser. Her all-time favorite food to eat was Vanilla Ice Cream. At age 95 she could hear the Ice Cream truck 5 blocks away, and could still run out and greet it. In 2008, she moved to Baltimore to live with her daughter Shelley (Paul) and to be closer to her husband in the nursing home. Upon his death she decided to remain in Baltimore, not wanting to live by herself. She remained in Baltimore until her home going and was frequently visited by family, friends, and well-wishers. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and her two older great grandchildren. She loved sitting in the sun and rarely got “too hot.” Margaret was preceded in death by her husband (Alvin) and her four siblings, Adrian Waters, Anne Taylor, Geraldine Reid, and Mary Waters. Margaret leaves to cherish her memories: her children, Jacqueline Cottman of Waianae, HI, Shelley (Paul) Moody of Baltimore, MD and Maurice (Mary) Cottman of Milton, MA. Grandma leaves five grandchildren: Marcel (Aiyana) Cottman of Atlanta, GA, Monique Cottman of Iowa City, IA, Arielle Moody of New York City, NY, Makeda (Leo) Pitt of Arlington, VA and William Moody of Baltimore, MD; two great-grandchildren, Maia Michelle and Aaron Maki, both of Atlanta, GA and twin great-grandsons, Liam and Logan Ebun, born 4 days before her passing, of Arlington, VA. Margaret also leaves extended family, Vivian and Rudy Rivers, Annette and Dan Neptune, Linaldo Donovan-Green, Antoinette Waddell, Nina and Edna Hollands and a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and church family. During her period of illness, Margaret was very fortunate to be cared for by her daughter Shelley in her home and by loving and caring health care personnel. We want to especially thank Michelle and Michael Johnson, Debroah McKinley, Lawanda Lawrence and her daughter Courtney, Ellen Swain and Amedisys Hospice Care. Eternally Grateful ~ The Family

Margaret Ianthia Cottman (Johnson)

December 3, 1919 - September 10, 2019