Margaret Porter Kennedy, 89, passed away on Sunday, December 8, 2024. 

Margaret was the daughter of the late James M. and Mary Magdalene Porter. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by and reunited with her loving husband, Neill M. Kennedy, her beloved son, Phillip James Tanner, her brother, Edward Earl Porter, who she loved like a son, a grandson, Brian Casper, and her daughter in law, Arnette Tanner, who held such a special place in her heart. 

She will also be so excited to be reunited with her uncles, D.B. Stephenson, and Monk and Mildred “Dootie” Stephenson, along with her aunt Patti King and husband John King. 

Left here to cherish her memory are her other two children, Dan Tanner and Joann Pearson and her husband Shane Pearson all of Roanoke Rapids, her Sister, Mary Wood and her two children, Timmy Wood (Kelly) and Vickie Wood, of Maine, her sister Linda Walker of Tarboro, an aunt, Alice Stephenson, of Roanoke Rapids, and cousins Joe and Gail West, of Roanoke Rapids. 

She was blessed to have and will be dearly missed by her eight grandchildren, Kari Tanner of Idaho, Sr. Chief Steve Tanner with 26 years of service in the U.S. Navy and wife Dannielle Tanner of Newport News, Nicole Brantley, Atlas-Jordan (A.J.) Pearson, Peyton Pearson and Amilya Harris, Shyann Pearson, and Brandon Tanner, all of Roanoke Rapids. 

She was also blessed to be Nana to and watch her four great grandchildren grow up and become adults on their own, Elizabeth (Libby) Frost, of Fairfax, VA, Kayla Casper of Roanoke Rapids, Alexis Tanner of Washington State, and Thadius James (T.J.) Tanner, who she was proud of to be serving in the Navy, currently stationed in Italy.

Margaret was a member of the First Pentecostal Holiness Church of Roanoke Rapids for many years and retired from J.P. Stevens Textile Mill. She dedicated many years to caring for her children and grandchildren and loved to travel with her husband and sister.

The family will receive friends at the home of her daughter Joann at 1020 Charlotte Street. The family will also have visitation services at Wrenn Funeral Home on Thursday, December 12, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

A funeral service will be held at Wrenn Funeral Home on Friday, December 13, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. with Reverend Aaron Lennard officiating. Interment will follow at Cedarwood Cemetery.

Online condolences may be made to www.wrennfh.com