Obituary

Margaret Friedman Vaughan died on September 14, 2021. She was surrounded through the end by the family she nurtured for 67 years as a wife, mother, sister, and friend. 

A native of Trenton, MI, Margaret was truly a product of the Civil Rights Movement. A dedicated feminist, she spent much of her life bridging religious and social divides, and championing social justice in all its forms. She left an indelible impact on each of the many places she called home, and the many lives she touched.  

Margaret was the first person in her family to graduate with a Bachelor’s which she earned at Campbellsville College. She spent a decade working as a social worker and nursing home administrator in Louisville, KY.  While her children were young, she pursued a Masters of Health Care Administration from Webster University.

As a self-taught seamstress, she sewed her own clothing, made quilts for family and friends, and even fashioned a set of Torah robes for Congregation Micah in Nashville, TN. For 7 years, Margaret owned and operated HandWorks, a needlepoint and cross-stitch store, on Fountain Square Park in Bowling Green, KY.   During this time, she continued her religious education, attending a para-Rabbinic program at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, OH.  

Margaret returned to Vanderbilt University in 2001 to pursue a Masters in Divinity. Drawing on her personal history, and her experiences of building interfaith and Jewish communities in the rural South, Margaret embarked on her second career as a Jewish educator and synagogue administrator. 

Margaret was wholly devoted to the philosophy of Reform Judaism, and the full inclusion of interfaith couples in all aspects of Jewish life. She was a founding member and leader of Congregation Am Shalom in Bowling Green, KY and Congregation Micah in Nashville, TN. Over the course of 15 years, she served in professional leadership roles for Rockdale Temple (Cincinnati, OH), Congregation Beth Elohim (Brooklyn, NY), Temple Sholom (Chicago, IL), and United Hebrew Congregation (St. Louis, MO) where she provided leadership and was able to counsel individuals, families, and interfaith couples on how to incorporate Judaism into their lives.

Margaret’s dedication to the Jewish community was surpassed only by her dedication to her family and friends, for whom she was a source of constant strength. Her friendship continuously withstood the tests of time and distance. More than once she nursed loved ones back to health, sat with friends grieving unimaginable loss, and never hesitated to travel any lengths necessary to help a friend in need. 

Her loss will be felt enormously by those who knew her. Graveside service will be private and a public memorial service will be held and live streamed from United Hebrew Congregation in St. Louis. Links will be made available in due time. 

In lieu of flowers, and in keeping with Jewish tradition, please consider making a gift to your local house of worship, United Hebrew Congregation or Hospice of Chattanooga in honor of her memory. 

Willard, Benjamin, Nathan, and Rachel