Margaret Sachs

Margaret Carol Sachs 12/30/41 - 8/23/23.  Margaret was born in Houston, Texas to Zelda Schlom Sachs and Irvin Sachs, and it was there that she met her longest known and best-friend-for-life friend Carole Bratter. She moved as a young girl to Greenville, MS, where her father joined her grandfather at his jewelry store, C.L.Schlom’s, and where she grew up. She left Greenville to attend college at Washington University in St Louis, and later earned her Master’s degree in Education from Harvard University. 

Although she was born and raised in the South, throughout her life she engaged with people and cultures from around the world. In addition to the time she spent in St Louis and Boston, she traveled extensively in Europe and the Middle East, including Israel.  She lived and worked for a time in New York City, and loved museums and music in NYC, and wherever she went. She was a voracious reader of fiction and non-fiction, and was always quick to share opinions about current events, and witty observations about life.  While Margaret had many vocations, the most significant to her was teaching. In addition to teaching elementary school, she taught and tutored many English language learners, including adult Russian refugees, and children from Korea, China and Japan. 

After Margaret’s father’s death, her mother joined her and they moved to Chapel Hill, NC in 1993.  In Chapel Hill, Margaret continued tutoring, was involved in her neighborhood, made friends at the Y and a variety of other places, tended the flowers and plants she loved, took excellent care of her mother, and, importantly, continued the practice of her Jewish faith.  She has been a congregant of both Beth El Synagogue and Judea Reform Congregation, and at the JRC was a founding member of the Caring Community.  She leaves behind many who are like family to her in both places. Helping other people understand the challenges faced by the Jewish people in the South, in America, and in history was also important to her, and her family donated family papers to the Southern Historical Collection at UNC. 

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, Zelda and Irvin Sachs, her sister Joanne Sachs Skibell, and her dear nephew Charles Skibell.  She is survived by Lyn Skibell, wife of Charles, and leaves behind many students and friends across the globe who will miss her dearly.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, 8/31/23 at 2 pm at the Judea Reform Congregation.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Margaret's memory to Judea Reform Congregation, 1933 W. Cornwallis Road, Durham, NC, 27705, or Beth El Synagogue, 1004 Watts St, Durham, NC 27701.