Margarita Acosta Woodhall

Margarita Acosta Woodhall, born in Miami, Arizona, on June 13, 1920, completed her remarkable life in Macon, on May 3, 2011. A Vigil Service is scheduled at 6 PM on Thursday, May 5, 2011, at Hart's Mortuary at the Cupola on Peake Road in Macon. The family will greet friends following the vigil until 8 PM. Graveside services and burial will be held at 12 noon on Friday, May 6, 2011, in Riverside Cemetery.

Nina, as she was known, spent her bilingual childhood in west Texas and northern Mexico, graduating with honors from El Paso High School in 1937. She and two friends took the thousand-mile bus trip to New Orleans, Louisiana, where they entered Tulane School of Nursing. Nina graduated as valedictorian.

Nina remained in New Orleans, working in the OR at Charity Hospital with legendary surgeons Michael DeBakey and Alton Ochsner. In 1942, she met and married surgeon-in-training Jerry Woodhall. After completion of his military service in the South Pacific and his surgical residency at Tulane, they moved to Macon in 1950.

In Macon, Nina was a long-time member of St. Joseph Church, the Middle Georgia Art Association, and the Idle Hour Club. She completed a second college degree in Education at Georgia College, and taught science at St. Joseph's School and biology at Mt. de Sales Academy. Late in her professional life she returned to nursing as a member of the discharge planning unit at the Medical Center of Central Georgia.

Nina's mother Elizabeth Acosta passed away in 1959, as did her husband Dr. Jerry Philip Woodhall in 1985. Nina is survived by three children, Peggy Woodhall Klatte (Andrew) of Indianapolis, Indiana, Susan Woodhall of Atlanta, and Philip Woodhall of Macon; and granddaughters Megan Woodhall Carson (Josh) of Macon, and Lauren Woodhall of Atlanta.

Condolences may be left in the on-line guest book at hartsmort.com. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial gifts to the Hospice of Central Georgia, 6261 Peake Road, Macon, GA 31210.

Register online at www.hartsmort.com.

Hart's Mortuary and Crematory at the Cupola has charge of arrangements. Click here to view floral tributes.