Margaret Marks Jacobs

Margaret Marks Jacobs, 75, passed away peacefully at home on St. Simons Island, Georgia after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer surrounded by her loving family.

Margaret was born in Fossil, Oregon on March 11, 1947 to the late Leslie Jack and Alice Billie Marks of Hermiston, Oregon. 

Survivors include her children, Samantha Tyre (Josh) and Adam Jacobs, her grandchildren, Aaron Tyre, Addison Tyre, Cohen Tyre, Cason Tyre, a brother, David Marks (Regina), siblings in love, Frances Abrams, Robert Abrams, Elizabeth Abrams Rick, Mary Abrams and Alice Abrams Atkins and a number of nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Margaret was raised on a cattle farm in eastern Oregon. As a child she remained active in 4-H, served on the N.W. Rodeo Court and regularly participated in barrel racing and competitive trail riding. While serving on the Rodeo Court, she participated in the Pendleton Round Up and was featured in the Rose Bowl Parade. Margaret was one of four delegates selected from Oregon that were named to Club Congress as a young adult. She had tea in the green room with President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson. Margaret graduated Oregon State University in 1969 with a Bachelors in Food Science and Technology and earned a Masters in Business Administration from Portland State University. She was the first female chemist at General Foods, the first female manager for Zellerbach Paper Company, the first female manufacturing manager for Boise Cascade, first female executive at Rayonier (Jesup), first female International Vice President of Henkel Corporation and the first female President of the Rotary Club of Jesup. 

Margaret has lived in eight (8) states and four (4) countries during her life.  She also had the pleasure of visiting twenty three (23) countries and all fifty (50) states. While traveling was a hobby, Margaret’s passion was paying it forward. Margaret was a servant leader in every capacity of her life who never met a task she would not attempt to conquer. She gave back to her community until the day she passed. Margaret chaired the initiative for Wayne County Literacy in the mid-80s which received the Barbara Bush National Literacy Honor Award. She was a member of Wesley Frederica United Methodist Church of St. Simons and had been a long term member of Epworth Methodist of Jesup. Margaret was a graduate of the Leadership Wayne Class of 1985 -1986 and had served as an active member of the boards for the Boys and Girls Club of the Altamaha Area, Hospice of South Georgia (Chair), Heart Association (President), Wayne Family Connections (Chair), United Methodist Women (President - Epworth; District Treasurer), Rotary Club (Jesup, Rochester Hills, Madison Heights, Hermiston, Golden Isles) (President; District Governor 6920; Paul Harris/Major Donor) and the Golden Isles Veteran’s Village (Chair).

Margaret attended ten (10) International Rotary Conventions (Portland, OR; Glasgow, Scotland, Indianapolis, IN; Buenos Aires, Argentina; San Antonio, TX; Brisbane, Australia; Chicago, IL; Atlanta, GA; Toronto, Canada; Hamburg, Germany). She also served through End Polio Now in India in 2017.

While Margaret Jacobs’ professional achievements and other accomplishments extended well past that which could be listed, her passion remained her children and grandchildren. She will continue cheering her children and grandchildren on from the best seat in the house. 

A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at Altamaha Baptist Church, 6622 Oglethorpe Road, Jesup, GA 31545 with Rev. Deven Mixon officiating.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the services at the church.

Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd. Jesup, GA 31545 or to the Rotary International project to end Polio at www.endpolio.org.

The celebration of life will be livestreamed at www.altamahabaptistchurch.org where you simply click the "watch livestream" button that appears on the website.