MouthOfSouth, wonderful friend and old-school Freeper, passed away

4/28/04 | Darth Sidious

[lowbridge]

6bg posted this afternoon that Maggi had died and... just couldn't believe it. After getting confirmation I lay on my bed and buried my face into the pillow, crying my eyes out for at least half an hour this afternoon.

She died toward the end of February but today was the first I'd seen it announced anywhere. Longtime Freepers (and those of us still Freepers at heart from the old days) will remember Maggi, better known by her screenname MouthOfSouth. I imagine any one of us would have something about the impression she left on a lot of people during her life both online and off.

She was a fierce advocate of property rights, especially of farmers and ranchers: not long before we'd first met she had just come from the Darby pro-farmers rally in Ohio. This was also the lady who, armed with a camera and telephoto lens, on most weekends did surveillance on the federal agents in Andrews NC who were searching for Eric Rudolph: she may not have approved of what Rudolph did, but she couldn't trust some of the antics of the feds out there either.

Maggi was not a partisan. She simply believed in what the Constitution stood for. Democrat and Republican alike were subject to her wrath if they deviated from its precepts. That was made obvious by her online presence: Maggi's acerbic wit and wisdom was certainly unique in a forum that, at the time anyway, prided itself on having unique individuals. Her knowledge of pop culture was profound, but that merely sheathed a style of prose that cut through all hypocrisy and nonsense. Nothing fazed this lady.

Some of us remember the sound of her voice, from when FR had FireTalk going on. If you heard her voice, whatever you imagined her to be like in real life, that was her. I'll never forget the first time we met and immediately being infected by her charisma. She was one of the darned few ladies you'll ever meet who'd mastered the fine art of curmudgeonry: I imagine that right now in Heaven she's giving Ambrose Bierce a thing or two about real human nature.

But I'll always remember Maggi as the person who, for whatever reason, saw some potential in a kid who was going through some messed-up times and enticed him to come to Asheville, where he could write and learn a few things about what life is really all about. I rented a small apartment from Maggi and her sister during the year and a half that I was there. My perspective on that wild little town and its people could not have been so greatly appreciated, were it not for the insight of those two sisters. What makes it particularly sad is that, in her own way, Maggi played a critical role in the life plan that God set for me: living in Asheville put me close to the girl I'd started talking to from a Christian website. It wasn't long after moving there that Lisa and I met. A little over a year later in that apartment I asked her to be my wife. Maggi and her sister were in on the whole plot and even helped me out a bit. I'm very thankful that such a moment of my life got to include them... that's something Lisa and I will take with us for the rest of our lives.

I spoke with Maggi's sister on the phone this afternoon. There will be a service next month when Maggi's ashes will be interred in the family plot. Her sister said that it was cancer, but that the last two years of Maggi's life were some of the happiest she ever had. I know some of what happened in that time and, trust me she was really blessed with the time God had left for her. And, it should be said that she went down in true Maggi style: fighting to the last.

Anyway, thought it should be made known to her friends both here and on FR that a great person from our own, and a dear friend, has passed away. I'm not much for words regarding something like this, but I hope that mine in this circumstance did some honor to all the good that Maggi did for me and a lot of other people. She will definitely be missed.

[ladyinred]

RIP Maggi. Prayers of comfort for her husband, children, family and friends like you lowbridge.

[christie]

A beautiful tribute. So sad to lose another wonderful FReeper.

[Mich0127]

So sorry to hear that...rest in peace Maggi!

[cyn]

Thanks for this touching tribute, Darth, written as no one else could have. What you have recorded here fills in the details of a truly remarkable woman. Praying for peace of mind for MOS's friends.

[BAFFauthor]

Maggie was one of my first friends on the Internet. As I told her several times, she was a sage old broad. She earned her name, MouthoftheSouth But even more, she earned the title, FRIEND. To her friends, of whom she had many, she was very loyal. She left behind hundreds of cyber-acquaintances who never met her, but whom will miss her for years to come. Maggi was truly larger than life...and she left a large gaping hole in a lot of lives.

[facedown]

BTTT

[stanz]

Sorry to hear of her passing. May she be at peace.

[JudyB1938]

"...she left a large gaping hole in a lot of lives."

She sure did, Jon. She sure did. I loved Maggi so much. We indeed have lost a wonderful friend. I am so glad that she went to Vegas that time so that we could meet. As wonderful as the online exchanges we all had over the years, she was even more exceptional in person.

Lowbridge, thank you so much for posting this so that other FReepers could know. Who keeps the Memorial Wall? I don't want her to EVER be forgotten. She did a lot for FR. More importantly, she did a lot for our nation.

See ya later, Maggi. Keep those Pearly Gates open for me.

[tet68]

Sorry to hear this.
tet68

[NWO Slave]

Here is a picture of Maggi Taylor

[Salem]

"See ya later, Maggi. Keep those Pearly Gates open for me."

Yeah, well, not too soon.   Maggi can hold the gates, but grab a book and take a while. Same for Jon!

[PropertyRightsResearch.org]

Ah, Maggi girl, how happy God must be to have you Home with Him! You helped me 'learn computerese' and had faith in our efforts here in the Darby farm country of west-central Ohio to rebuff U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Your faith and Helen's shored us up many times; and seeing you, hugging you (after all those 'e-hugs' you so graciously and generously bestowed) and meeting you was priceless. When you moved to California and renewed that long-burning romance, reunited again with all our blessings, I was so happy for you. You sent me that wonderful photo of you and the flowers (that's posted here) and I posted it at the Photos button at my own website, www.PropertyRightsResearch.org , to show the world what a true lady and patriot warrior looks like! I am happy to learn of your new residence, sure that you are great friends with Shon Daniel Piper, my beloved nephew, who returned Home to Heaven on February 5, 2002. Oh, how many friends you have, girl -- both in Heaven and here on earth! What a mansion you must have there! I was so pleased to learn of your part in the romance that became the wedding of Darth Sidious and his sweetheart. You rascal, you! Maggi, I always had a feeling that you and Helen were matchmakers, and this proved it! We love you and will always hold you close in our memories, to uplift us in the battles to protect and regain our Constitutional Republic and our freedoms. You showed us the way, Angel Friend Maggi! From Julie in the Darby, where there's NO USFWS 'WILDLIFE REFUGE' but where wildlife life with people and domestic animals just fine!

[mabelkitty]

Sounds like a wonderful lady. Wish I could have known her, but glad she was on our side.
Prayers for her loved ones.

[Squantos]

I remember Maggi's e-mails and posts to me from the era of the hunt for Rudolph.

God Bless you Maggi for your kindness and patriotism.

Stay Safe Lowbridge, Thanks for letting us know.

[CharlotteVRWC]

"Have some photos of her and other freepers I took at a Carolina freeper meet near Charlotte in 1998"...

I remember her from that meeting....God Bless...

[commish]

Very sad news. I always looked forward to Maggi's insight's and posts. The Heaven chapter of FR has another fine member.

My sincere condolences to her family and friends.

[lowbridge]

bump

[Darksheare]

Understood.

[Billthedrill]

RIP for a real original.

[snopercod]

I'm sorry to hear this. Send my regards to Chris. I bump him occasionally to tweak the management here.