Mrs. Margaret Lemons McQuay was born on June 1, 1930, to the late George and Arceola Lemons. She was educated in Hillsborough County Public Schools and later devoted many years of dedicated service to the University of South Florida, where she retired. Deeply rooted in her faith, Margaret accepted Christ as a young adult and was a devoted member of Allen Temple AME Church beginning in 1947, and a watch care member of The Refreshing Church in Houston, TX, Rev. John A. Murray III, Pastor. At Allen Temple, she served as a Class Leader, a longtime member of the Gospel Chorus, in the Senior Adult Ministry and as Church Housekeeper. Her steady commitment to her church family was a reflection of her heart to serve. Margaret poured love into her family, friends and community. Her strength, kindness, and sense of humor touched all who knew her. She was always willing to lend a helping hand or offer encouraging words.

She was preceded in death by her husband Melvin C. McQuay, Sr.; children, Melvin McQuay, Jr., Leon McQuay Sr., and Elaine Brown; brother, Ulysses Lemons; sisters, Ruth Mathis, Elizabeth Rump, Johnnie M. Canady, and Barbara Culpepper; grand-child, Gianna Schuler.

She is survived by her son, Reginald Garth (Michele); son in-law, Solomon Brown, Jr,; grandchildren, Leon McQuay Jr. (Angie), Hope Sangon, Shandra Hagins (Lynnwood), Kisha Dickerson (Timothy), Marla McQuay, Labranne McQuay Sr., Dwight Edgecomb, Melvin McQuay III (Rhonda), Darel Adams (Krystal),  Kandyce Garth and Analisa Benitez; great-grandchildren, Khiry McQuay, Sr., Leon McQuay III, Catelon McQuay, Trevarius Bradley, Stefan Kitchen, Romnick Cortel, Kori Hagins, Marley Hagins, Timothy Dickerson Jr., Taylor Dickerson, Thomas Dickerson, Kayla Chandler, Da'Nai Edgecomb, Emoni Edgecomb, Labranne McQuay Jr., Juliana Lopez, Raelynn Adams, and River Roberts. Her great-great-grandchildren: Khiry McQuay Jr., Khylae McQuay, Kyeli McQuay, J'Harii Bradley, K'Lani Bradley, Stefan Kitchen Jr. and Ally Nicole Pierce whose young lives represent the continuation of her enduring family legacy. Margaret is further survived by loving sisters, Daisy Shepard, Laura Joiner, and Gloria George; brother, Willie Lemons, Sr. and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and family.  The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Kathie Chevalier, Chantel Phillips-Best and Phillippa Graham who were her companion caretakers in Houston for their compassion, support and attentive care and special friends: Rev. Gayle Flowers, Monique Sullivan, Amber Black, India Webb McQuay, Deion Price (Houston, TX and Delores Keaton (Houston, TX).