Margaret Heyn

Margaret Beauford Warwick Heyn, 102, of Monterey, passed away Thursday, April 4, 2024, at Augusta Health in Fishersville. 

The daughter of the Rev. Abram Beauford Warwick, a native of Lovingston, and Phoebe Dice Jones Wilson Warwick, a native of Monterey, Margaret was born on Feb. 18, 1922, in Sinking Creek, where her father was temporarily on assignment as principal of the high school there. 

Margaret’s family returned to Monterey when she was three months old. Homeschooled by her father until his death in 1933 and then by her two oldest sisters until 1935, she entered Monterey High School at age 13 and graduated at age 16, salutatorian of the class of 1938. 

Margaret inherited her family’s fondness for literary pursuits and music. She was an avid reader throughout her life and played the piano from a very young age. These passions were reflected in her academic, career and avocational pursuits.

In 1942, she received her B.A. from Madison College, now James Madison University, where she majored in English and minored in music. That same year, she went to Washington, D.C., to pursue advanced secretarial studies.

Margaret made her career as an executive secretary, working from age 20 until she retired in 2015 at age 93. She took a 16-year hiatus to raise her family, but even then found ways to apply her well-honed skills to the benefit of volunteer endeavors wherever her travels took her. She also always sought ways to remain active musically.

In the years before she married, she took paid and volunteer side jobs as a church musician, accompanist for singers and instrumentalists, and ensemble player in dance bands and small orchestras. Throughout her life, her chief pleasures as a performing musician were to accompany other musicians and provide background music for gatherings of family, friends, and social groups generally. In her later years, when her vision was greatly impaired, she was able to continue to play for others because her vast repertoire was committed to memory.

Margaret’s first placement out of secretarial school in 1942 was at The George Washington University, where she worked for then-president Cloyd Heck Marvin and assisted in the university law office. From Washington, D.C., she moved to Richmond, where she took a position at the Methodist Children’s Home, and later at the YWCA. 

In 1948, she responded to a Washington, D.C., ad for a federal government secretarial position with opportunities for international travel. Before her first assignment, she met her future husband, U.S. Foreign Service Officer John Gienger Heyn. John, too, was a classically trained musician. In his previous career, he had been a symphony orchestra conductor and opera coach in Europe and, like Margaret, he was equally at home with other genres. The couple found common ground not only in their mutual love of music, but also in their commitment to their work, their world view and their values. Thus, despite assignments that kept them half a world apart, their romance blossomed, and on Dec. 11, 1954, they married in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where John was then stationed.

Margaret’s assignments before her marriage took her to Germany and Puerto Rico. Afterwards, she accompanied her husband on his assignments to Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, and Jamaica. The couple retired to Mexico, but five years later returned to the United States, where Margaret returned to work and then, with her husband as the accompanying spouse, took assignments in Chile, Peru, Uruguay, and Panama.

Margaret was the last surviving grandchild of local historical figure Charles Pinckney Jones and his wife, Martha Jane “Mattie” Wilson Jones. 

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, John, who died in 1996; half-sisters, Clara Godwin Warwick, Sarah Eliza Lillie Warwick Slaven, and Martha Lucy “Dot” Wilson Baker; her half-brothers, Frank Jones Wilson and George Osborne Wilson Sr.; and her nephews, Thomas Elliott Wilson and Francis Ray Wilson.

Margaret is survived by her daughter, Deborah Heyn Workman and husband Kenneth of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; son, John Warren Heyn and wife Deborah of Versailles, Ky.; granddaughter, Genevieve Grace Heyn, also of Versailles; nephews, John Conway Baker Jr. and wife Carol of Princeton, W.Va., John Frank Wilson and wife Carol of Hampton, and George Osborne Wilson Jr. and wife Teddy of Bridgewater; niece, Mary Reefa Wilson Tacy and husband Gail of Staunton; as well as great-nieces, great-nephews, and numerous cousins.

Margaret will be greatly missed for her devotion to family and friends, her sharp mind, her fine memory, her sly wit, her playful spirit, and her sage counsel, which was always both pragmatic and compassionate. Margaret inspired many in her long life, including in her last years when, in spite of limited vision, hearing and mobility, she never complained, but made the most she could of what was available to her. Using a large magnifier, she continued to read at least a book a day and work crossword puzzles. She continued to watch films and make music. And she regularly delighted in the natural beauty of her Highland County home, visits and messages from family and friends, keeping up with the news from near and far, recalling good times, having a good laugh, and raising others’ spirits.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, July 20, 10:30 a.m., at Monterey United Methodist Church and on Sunday, July 21, 3:30 p.m., at St. Thomas Episcopal Church of McLean. The Rev. Fran Gardner-Smith will officiate at both services.  

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Margaret W. Heyn Youth Music Education Fund. Checks may be made payable to the Highland County Arts Council, P.O. Box 175, Monterey, Va. 24465, memo “MWH Youth Music Ed Fund.”