Margaret (Marge) Corlett Dillard passed away on June 23, 2026, at 100 years old. She was preceded in death by her husband, Powell Garland Dillard, Jr., MD, whom she married in 1948. She was born in Battle Creek, Michigan on February 27, 1926, daughter of the late Meryl and Aimee Browning Corlett. Marge was educated in the Battle Creek public schools and received a BA degree from Randolph Macon Women’s College in 1948. She is survived by four daughters; Celia Potekhen, Dorie Smiley (Knight) and Corlett Keefer (Scott) all of Lynchburg and Ann Ackley (Rob) of Sunset, South Carolina. She also leaves ten grandchildren; Will Culpepper (Cristy), Joseph Nelson (Meg), Garland Nelson, Emily Vanzant (Court), Robert Ackley (Tina), Molly Miller (Peter), Ann Browning McCarty (John), Nancy Cook (William), Tyler Keefer, Harris Lane (David), three step grandchildren; Langdon Zimmer (Tommy), Will Smiley, and Kristen Potekhen, a number of nieces and nephews, fifteen great-grandchildren, six step great-grandchildren and family friend’s, Pamela Church, former AFS student, Anne Audain, Poppy Bilbra-Jacobs and Jeanna Chapman. She was predeceased by sisters, Beverly Allen, Roberta Sugden, Marilyn Corlett Sullivan and Virginia Corlett. She was preceded in death by family friends, Hannah Sandidge and Matilda Bowles.

Miz Marge was the Director of the First Presbyterian Weekday School for ten years as well as a Deacon, youth advisor and receptionist for the church. In addition, Marge served in leadership roles with numerous community organizations, including the Lynchburg Academy of Medicine Auxiliary, the Lynchburg Fine Arts Center and Academy of Music (Academy Center of the Arts) , Hillside Garden Club, Junior Women’s Club, Junior League of Lynchburg, Randolph Macon Women’s College Board of Trustees and Alumnae Association, and the James River Day School Board. Marge served as chairperson of the Lynchburg Beautification Commission for three years at which time Lynchburg received the beautification award from the state for two of those years. She was a member of P.E.O. Chapter BC in Lynchburg. 

Above all, Marge wishes to be remembered as a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She enjoyed her grandchildren, gardens and her Smith Mountain Lake cottage.

Contributions may be made to: The Marge Dillard Scholarship Fund of the Weekday School of First Presbyterian Church, Randolph College, Hillside Garden Club Foundation or The Academy Center of the Arts. 

Marge has been in the loving care of her four daughters for the past year and a half. The family wishes to thank the wonderful care our mother received from the Centra Hospice caregivers, especially Kasie, Brooke and Janet.

A funeral service will be held at 12:00 PM on Monday, July 6, 2026, at First Presbyterian Church, 1215 V.E.S. Rd. Lynchburg, VA 24503.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg is assisting the family. To send condolences, please visit www.tharpfuneralhome.com