Margaret Henry Sparkman, 95, of Conover, passed away Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at Catawba Valley Medical Center. Born April 8, 1916, in Catawba County, she was the daughter of the late Paul Christian Henry and Effie Huitt Henry. She was a lifelong member of Concordia Lutheran Church in Conover. Margaret was well known as the National Gourd Lady. She was a nationally accredited flower show judge with lifetime credentials. Margaret was appointed by North Carolina Governor Bob Scott to be on the state beautification committee. She was selected as a 1970 "personality of the South," co-author of the book "Creativity with Gourds," and created "Casey the Cardinal" out of gourds, which became the symbol for the N.C. State Fair. Margaret created "Ringo the Raccoon" and "Caro Lion" to be used in Carowinds. She taught Gourd Art at the Adrian L. Shuford, Jr. YMCA in Conover, where she worked for 35 years. Margaret appeared on "The Carolina Traveler," "Carolina Ca-mera" (multiple times), "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno (twice), and many other talk shows. She was featured in Country Woman, Southern Living, and Our State magazines, in many newspapers, and on WBTV Channel 3's "Good News" with Kristin Hampton. The story from WBTV and Margaret were honored at the Charlotte First Night Celebration. Some of Sparky's work is in the Catawba County Museum of History, the N.C. History Museum in Raleigh, and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. She exhibited her crafts 17 times at the N.C. State Fair in Raleigh, 47 times at the Southern Spring Show, and 40 times at the Southern Christmas Show at the Merchandise Mart in Charlotte. In 2011, the Adrian L. Shuford, Jr. YMCA dedicated the Sparkman Community Center to her. She lived a full and productive life. Margaret was like the Energizer Bunny. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Cleophus Spark-man; her son, Clyde Cleophus Sparkman, Jr.; brothers, Percy Henry, Bill Henry, Herman Henry and Eugene Henry; and sisters, Pauline H. Long, Ann H. Cloninger, and Grace H. Wiley.

A service of remembrance will be held Saturday, March 10, at 3 p.m. at Concordia Lutheran Church with Rev. A. Mark Schudde and Vicar Steve Miller officiating. Burial will follow at Conover City Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday, March 9, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Drum Funeral Home in Conover. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sparkman Community Center, Adrian L. Shuford, Jr. YMCA, P.O. Box 280, Conover, NC 28613 or Concordia Lutheran Church, 216 5th Ave. SE, Conover, NC 28613. Condolences may be sent to the Sparkman family at drumfuneral home.com. The Sparkman family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Drum Funeral Home & Cremation in Conover.