Margaret Lucille Merkh, 82, of Suffolk, VA passed away February 21, 2012. She was born in Hopewell, VA the daughter of the late Blanche Brannan Johnson and Tyson Timothy Johnson. She was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Rev. Daniel James Merkh, Sr. and brothers, Hubert and Hubbert Johnson.

Rev. Merkh, Margaret, and family spent one year in Lausanne, Switzerland to learn the French language, four years in the Ivory Coast of West Africa, and nine and half years in France as missionaries. After returning to the United States, Margaret later went on to work and retire as an executive secretary for Dominion Power. She was a member of the Free Will Baptist Church in Carrollton, VA.

Margaret is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth "Beth" M. and Richard Redd of Suffolk, VA and their granddaughter, Heather Edwards; sons and daughters-in-law, Daniel J. Merkh, Jr. of Rhode Island, Timothy Karl and Amy Frances Merkh of Knob Noster, MO, Raymond Earl and Lisa Elizabeth Merkh of Blackstone, VA, Jonathan Mark Merkh of Nashville, TN; daughter-in-law, Kathy Merkh of Norfolk, VA; 10 grandchildren; and 5 great grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held Friday, February 24, 2012 at 2 p.m. at Parr Funeral Home & Crematory, 3515 Robs Dr., Suffolk, VA 23434 with Rev. Terry Beck officiating. Burial will follow at Holly Lawn Cemetery. Friends may join the family Thursday night from 7-8 p.m. at the funeral home and other times at the residence of Beth and Richard Redd. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in memory of Margaret Merkh to the Free Will Baptist International Missions, P.O. Box 5002, Antioch, TN 37011-5002. The family would like to give special thanks to Heartland Hospice. Condolences may be registered online at www.parrfuneralhome.com.