Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

October 25, 2026

Margaret Scott Akers Hardage, 72, of Charlotte, North Carolina, went home to be with our Lord and Heavenly Father on October 25, 2026. Her unexpected death was a profound loss to her family and those who knew her.

Margaret was born in Charlotte on October 21, 1954, to Mary Ethel Coons Akers and Charles Walter Akers. She grew up on Llewellyn Place with her brother and two sisters. She attended Eastover Elementary and graduated from Myers Park High School in 1973. After two years at Converse College, she completed her degree in Education at Appalachian State University in 1978.

In 1981, Margaret married David Johnson Hardage, and together they raised their two sons, Jonathan and Scott, in Charlotte. With David often traveling for work, Margaret devoted herself to caring for the boys throughout their formative years. Some of her happiest moments came from the everyday joys of raising her sons, including birthday parties, sleepovers, and the nightly tradition of reading them a book before bed. She shared in their interests, encouraged their curiosity, and always let them know how much she loved and supported them. She took tremendous pride in the men they became and always considered raising them her greatest accomplishment. When Scott hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2013, Margaret followed his journey closely, proud of his adventure but always relieved to hear that he was safe. Seeing both of her sons marry brought her great happiness, and she warmly welcomed Adrianna and Kyle into the family. After her sons settled in Virginia and California, Margaret enjoyed visiting them, spending time with Adrianna and Kyle, and getting to know the places they now called home.

Margaret’s commitment to helping children grow extended beyond her own family. She began her career as a teacher in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, before stepping away to raise her sons. After they were grown, she returned to the classroom as an assistant teacher at Elizabeth Lane Elementary. She cared deeply for the children she worked with and delighted in helping them learn phonics and become more confident readers. Margaret had recently made the decision to retire. On Friday, October 23, she happily shared with friends that the final paperwork had been approved. With her final day at Elizabeth Lane just a week away, she was looking forward to spending more time with her sons and their spouses.

Margaret was outgoing, creative, and funny, with a gift for storytelling and finding humor in everyday life. She loved gardening, cooking, birdwatching, and art and was an accomplished calligrapher. Margaret’s patience and attention to detail shone through in her many creative pursuits, including pysanky, the traditional Ukrainian art of wax-resist egg decorating, and Scherenschnitte, the German art of intricate paper cutting. Her baked goods were often decorated with intricate designs and freely shared with friends and family.

The natural world had a special place in Margaret’s heart. She found peace and comfort in nature and delighted in sharing its wonders with her family. She fed the birds in the backyard, carefully tended African violets indoors, and even brought nature into her artwork, pressing ferns to create distinctive candle votives for her sons’ weddings. For a time, she volunteered as a docent, leading tours at Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary. She was delighted to see the appreciation for nature that she encouraged in Scott become an important part of his life and eventually his career in conservation.

Margaret also filled her sons’ childhood with music. She sang songs with them when they were young, encouraged their piano lessons, and proudly attended their middle and high school concert band performances as both boys took up percussion. She delighted in seeing Jonathan carry that early love of music into adulthood and ultimately build a career as a music promoter.

She had many friends and a genuine interest in the people around her. Growing up on Llewellyn Place was like having an extended family just beyond the front door, and many neighbors became cherished lifelong friends. She also maintained close friendships from high school and college while forming new and meaningful relationships throughout her life in Charlotte. Few things made her happier than hearing what her sons were up to, and she proudly shared their stories and photos with her friends.

Family was at the center of Margaret’s life. She remained especially close to her parents and siblings throughout her life. For many years, Tuesday evenings meant taking her sons to Boy Scout meetings, often with a stop at her parents’ house along the way. Summers brought the extended Akers family together at Litchfield Beach in South Carolina, where 17 family members spanning three generations shared a busy house, days at the beach, and talent shows filled with music and skits. She also loved the mountains of North Carolina and traveling with her family, including a special road trip with her sons and their spouses along the East Coast.

Margaret’s faith was an important part of her life and found expression in the way she cared for others. A lifelong member of Myers Park Presbyterian Church, she offered companionship and support to people going through difficult times in her volunteer role as a Stephen Minister. She experienced profound losses and difficult changes in her own life as well, but met them with perseverance, optimism, and hope.

Margaret is survived by her sons, Jonathan and Scott, and their spouses, Adrianna and Kyle. She is also survived by her siblings and their spouses, Charley and Julia Akers, Mary Catherine and Ed Hawes, and Sarah and Hunter Faulkner. She also leaves behind a large and much-loved extended family, including six nieces and nephews and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Mary and Charles Akers.

Margaret loved deeply, laughed often, and cared genuinely for the people around her. Her family will remember her humor and stories, her creativity and curiosity, and the encouragement she gave so freely. Most of all, they will remember how deeply and openly she expressed her love for them.

A celebration of Margaret’s life will be held on Saturday, December 12, at 11:00 a.m. at Myers Park Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Margaret’s memory may make a donation to the Elizabeth Lane Elementary PTA at https://www.givebacks.com/causes/elizabethlane/campaigns/afo2026.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606.

Online condolences and cherished memories of Margaret may be shared at https://tributewell.com/groups/margaret.akers.hardage/