Mildred Margaret Bullard Box Caver (Tootie) passed away Friday Sept. 16, 2016, at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo. She had been struggling with advancing health issues for some time, drawing on the amazing strength she had shown all her life to sustain her through difficulties. But this time was too much, and she went to her eternal rest and glory with loved ones by her side.

Margaret was devoted to her family, and had dedicated her life to the nurturing and care of her loved ones. She was born March 10, 1923, raised in the depression era, marrying her beloved sweetheart J. D. Box on New Years Eve 1941. They had only three days together, before he left for nearly four years duty in the Pacific during WWII. In every way, Margaret and J. D. were bright examples of what is truly called our Greatest Generation. After J. D. returned, they started a family in Booneville and they and their three sons were happy together until his sudden and untimely death at age 40 in July 1957.

Margaret succeeded in so many ways during her life. She raised her three sons, she took care of her aging parents, and in countless ways was a rock of support for many other family members who needed her over the years. Without any special amount of formal education, mother was also successful in many endeavors outside of being a homemaker. At various times, she held a position as an attorney’s secretary, she ran a respected tax preparation business from her home, and she worked many years for the Prentiss County Educational System both in the Resources Center and as a teacher’s aid at Hills Chapel and Anderson Schools. She learned how to be a farmer’s wife, living and working on the farm of her beloved second husband Ralph Caver. She and Ralph also operated a pea and bean shelling business together. She became interested in antique furniture refinishing, and spent many happy hours in the shop she built behind her house. The more she learned, the more she wanted to learn, and mastering many carpentry and flower and shrub gardening skills became her passion in her later years. Her beloved garden behind her house took many hard hours of labor, but all of it done with love and satisfaction, fulfilling her inspiration to create a memorial to her mama Ethel Bullard. This garden was admired and well known by many, and stories and pictures about her and her garden were featured in local newspaper articles. Ms. Caver was truly a Renaissance woman of her time.

Services for Margaret will be held Monday Sept. 19 at 1 p.m. at McMillan Funeral Home in Booneville, with Brother Bobby Hankins officiating, and burial following at Booneville City.

Survivors include her three boys, David Box (Margaret) and their son Grant of Memphis, Virgil (Jan) and their daughter Lauren Hitchcock (Travis) of Oxford and Randy (Sherry) and their sons Austin Box (Elisa) and Adam Box (Kristin) of Gulfport. She is also survived by one step-daughter, Tammie Waters (Jimmy) and their son Brett and daughters Julie and Jorda, and one step son Terry Caver, all of Baldwyn. Beloved great grandchildren include Lauren’s son

Christian, Austin’s daughter Stella Kay, and Julie’s daughter Kimmins. Tammy Holley, a great niece, and her husband Tim, must be mentioned and thanked for being there for her and the family. A surviving niece, Elizabeth Williamson and her husband Norman, from Fairfax,Virginia have been especially close and supportive in so many ways over the years, and another niece Lynda Figueroa from Clovis, California has also been so faithful in comforting us in many ways. Her nephew Thomas Box is appreciated for his often seen kindness and generosity. There are also several other surviving nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Grant Box, Austin Box, Adam Box, Brett Waters, Travis Hitchcock, and Tim Holley Margaret was preceded in death by her husband J. D. Box, and also by her second husband Ralph Caver, her parents Clint and Ethel Bullard, one brother Franklin Bullard, two sisters, Vivian Walker and Louise Hughes, and her dear niece Marie Harris, who was like a sister to her.

Visitation for Margaret will be Monday, Sept. 19, at 11 a.m. at McMillan Funeral Home, with the funeral service to follow in the Chapel there at 1 p.m.

Memorials to Margaret may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis or Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo.

Condolences may be left online, and more information found on the life of Margaret Caver, at www.watersfuneralservice.com. Waters Funeral Home of Baldwyn is in charge of arrangements.