Margaret Murphy Hofmann, 94, died peacefully on November 21 surrounded by her family.
She was predeceased by her parents, James and Margaret Dughi Murphy, her husband Julian Hofmann, and her brother Frank Murphy.
She is survived by her six children, Eileen Hofmann and husband John Klinck of Norfolk, VA, James Hofmann of New Bern, Andy Hofmann and husband Bobby Barrett of Pinehurst, Charles Hofmann and wife Jane of Ashburn, VA, Tessie Hofmann and husband Tim Brady of Weldon, and Catharine Hofmann and husband Steve Scott of Littleton.
She is also survived by ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild: Julie Barrett, Catherine Hofmann, Patrick Barrett, Lizzie Hofmann, Julian Brady and wife Jordan Robison, Christopher Hofmann, Mike Klinck, Mary Brady, Jonathan Hofmann, Laura Brady, and two week old Zoë Ann Brady. She is also survived by her sister Elizabeth Murphy of Raleigh and seven nieces and several great nieces and nephews.
Margaret Hofmann was born February 9, 1924 in Raleigh. She attended Cathedral Latin High School in Raleigh and continued her education at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia graduating on D-Day - June 6, 1944 with a B.S. in Chemistry. She went on to earn a Master of Science in Biochemistry at North Carolina State College, graduating in 1950. During World War II she was employed as a soil chemist by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and also served as an Air Raid Warden. A lifelong Wolfpack fan, she would not answer the phone during NC State basketball games.
She married Julian Hofmann of Raleigh on September 10, 1951 and they lived in various locations in eastern North Carolina before settling in Weldon.
As a wife and mother, she devoted her attention to raising her children, but also began focusing on her hobby - genealogy. Her hobby became a passion that later evolved into a career as she became a nationally recognized authority on North Carolina history and genealogy.
She published numerous books containing abstracts of North Carolina colonial land records, and she travelled the county lecturing on the use of land records at genealogical conferences and gatherings. Through her efforts, the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Halifax, NC, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.
A Mass of Remembrance will be celebrated on Monday, November 26 at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Halifax, NC, at 11:00AM with Father Pius Wekesa officiating.
Burial will be at 3:00 p.m. in Montlawn Memorial Park in Raleigh, NC.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Friends of the Halifax County Library, the Weldon Volunteer Fire Department, or the charity of your choice.
Arrangements are being handled by Askew Funeral and Cremation Services 731 Roanoke Ave Roanoke Rapids.