Margaret Gaulden Butts

Margaret Gaulden Butts, 91, of Long Beach, passed away at her home on Saturday, February 17, 2024, surrounded by her loved ones.

She was born in Amory, Mississippi on November 18, 1932, and grew up in Columbus, Mississippi where she attended and graduated from Stephen D. Lee High School. She was a member of the East End Baptist Church of Columbus.

Margaret married the love of her life Watson in 1959 in Columbus where they lived for a short time before moving to Natchez, Mississippi and Vicksburg, Mississippi and then settling down in Long Beach, Mississippi in 1968.

Margaret worked as an office manager in the Gulfport area for many years for various medical offices where she established many cherished friendships before she decided to stay home to raise her children. Margaret had a love for gardening and plants, along with being active in her church, First Baptist Church of Long Beach. Margaret was a devout Christian who loved her lord and savior and lived her life by the word of God in her everyday life. She was a role model to all in her faith. Margaret’s love for her family was extraordinary.

Margaret is preceded in death by her father, James Edgar Gaulden and her mother Ellie Ora Gaulden, Aunt, Myrtle Enola Stafford, her sister Frances Virginia Rutledge and her brother-in-law Troy Horace Rutledge who she referred to as “brother” and her brother-in-law William Eugene Scott. 

Margaret is survived by her husband of 64 years, Watson G. Butts, her beloved sister Dorothy G. Scott of Hammond, LA and her children Michael W. Butts (Nancy), LeaAnn Bormann and Jeffery T. LeBlanc (Candy) who had a significant impact on Margaret’s life, her grandson, Christopher R. LeBlanc and a granddaughter, Jennifer M. Hendershott (Aliyah), along with 7 great grandchildren, Jaedyn LeBlanc, Peyton LeBlanc, Ty LeBlanc, Ava LeBlanc, Emersyn LeBlanc, Finn LeBlanc, Kylan Hendershott and many nieces and nephews who she adored and loved. Margaret was “Nana” to our home and to many.

The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to Margaret’s caretakers Fawn and Lisa for the past 5 weeks as they took such good care of her and treated her with so much dignity and respect. She always told us how much she appreciated you both and we want you to know that we could not have done this without your help. We are forever grateful to you.

A visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM, Friday, February 23, 2024, at Riemann Family Funeral Home, 19130 Commission Road, Long Beach.  The funeral service will begin at 11:00 AM in the funeral home chapel, followed by interment at Long Beach City Cemetery.