Margaret Louise Emerson

Margaret Louise Emerson, known as Peggy, passed away peacefully on January 14, 2026, at the age of 86.

She was born on October 24, 1939, at Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital in Hanover, New Hampshire, to Melvin Arthur Cooley and Dora Armina Cooley (née Morrow). Margaret was raised in New Hampshire alongside her siblings Barbara, Richard, Cynthia, and Joyce.

Margaret devoted her life to learning, teaching, and caring for others. She attended Greenville Technical College and Furman University and worked as a teacher, a role that reflected her lifelong love of knowledge and service. Teaching was not just her profession, but an extension of who she was.

She was a devoted Jehovah’s Witness and faithfully attended the Kingdom Hall, where her love for God and others was evident in the way she lived her life. Margaret truly never knew a stranger. Her warmth, kindness, and genuine interest in people left lasting impressions on everyone she met.

Margaret had a deep love for nature. She found joy in birds, plants, the outdoors, and especially the beach.

She was married to her husband, David Emerson, for more than thirty years.

Margaret was the proud mother of seven children: Robert Paul LaPlante (Debbie), Steven Carl LaPlante, Edward Wayne LaPlante (preceded her in death), Aaron Stuart Roberts (Era), Emily Roberts King (Randy), Melanie Jane Cundiff, and Brian Andrew Roberts (Felisha). She was a cherished grandmother to 22 living grandchildren, with two grandchildren preceding her in death, and a beloved great-grandmother to 12 great-grandchildren. Her family was her greatest joy.

Margaret will be remembered for her faith, her love of creation, and the way she made everyone feel seen and valued. Her legacy lives on through the generations she nurtured, taught, and loved so fiercely.

Her ashes will be laid to rest with her mother in New Hampshire in the spring.

Condolences may be expressed to the family online by visiting www.grayfuneralhome.com.

Gray Funeral Home of Laurens is honored to assist the Emerson family with services.