Margaret Ellen Hood Frissell

Margaret Ellen Hood Frissell, 96, died peacefully in Gainesville, Georgia on November 3 with her sons and daughter-in-law, Kellie, by her side.

Margaret was born October 29, 1928, the third child of the late Richard Neal Hood and Rader Starnes Hood of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Her childhood was complicated by the death of her father at age six and the onset of the Great Depression.

She attended Erskine College ‘49, through the generosity of a member from her church. Her career in Presbyterian churches began in the Charlotte area. To further her career, she attended graduate school at the Presbyterian School of Christian Education ‘62 in Richmond, Virginia. During her studies, her life plan was altered when she met fellow classmate, widower Charles “Chuck” Richard Frissell and his toddler son David Wayne Frissell. She fell in love with both and after graduation she and Chuck were married on August 3, 1963. After the birth of their son Mark Richard Frissell, Margaret and Chuck decided a career in the Air Force would be their path. Chuck served two tours in Vietnam, during those years they made cassette tape recordings for each other alongside writing letters. Prior to deployment Chuck arranged for flowers to be delivered to Margaret on every special occasion. He served as an Air Force Chaplain for 26 years. The family was stationed to 12 assignments including two tours to Germany and one to Korea. Margaret excelled making military housing homey and welcoming. She was the master of cleaning, adding removable wallpaper accents, sewing curtains, and laying carpets.  She brightened their many yards with flowers. Margaret embraced decorating for the seasons and holidays, Christmas being her favorite.

The 1970s was her decade for crafting. She macramed, Tole painted and decoupaged everything. She delighted in homemaking but was not fond of cooking. She was an early adopter of the microwave oven as an attempt to streamline the cooking process, once even cooking the Thanksgiving turkey in the microwave! Margaret took advantage of travel opportunities wherever they were stationed, collecting furnishings and mementos.  When stationed in Montgomery, she relocated to Tuscaloosa to earn a Master’s in Social Work, from the University of Alabama ‘79. This degree allowed her to work as a counselor while stationed in Korea.

To be closer to their sons and her sister, Chuck and Margaret retired to Gainesville, Georgia in 1995. She volunteered at the Medical Center Foundation of Northeast Georgia until the COVID pandemic. 

Margaret is preceded in death by her husband, brother Richard Neal Hood Jr. and survived by her sister Dorothy Hood Sanders, sons, David (Kellie) of Stockbridge, Georgia, and Mark (Elizabeth) and granddaughter Selden DuBose Frissell of Savannah, Georgia, nephew Richard Neal Hood III, nieces Julia Hood Leigh, Anna Hood Stillman, and Ellen Hood Rowe.

In honor of her lifelong dog ownership, in lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Humane Society of Northeast Georgia, 845 West Ridge Road, Gainesville, GA 30501.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, December 6, at First Presbyterian Church in Gainesville.

Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Rd., Gainesville, Ga. 30504 is in charge of the arrangements.

Send online condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com