Tribute to Margaret Whitehead

Margaret Whitehead, the Director of our Childrens Medical Escort program translated September 8th after a short illness. She was a dear friend and the first volunteer for Airline Ambassadors programs.

Margaret ran the Airline Ambassadors Children’s Medical Escort Program simce 1997 26 years) as a full time volunteer!!!

She shut down the program in May of 2023…this was her last post:

A Celebration of Life was held in Peachtree City GA Oct 21, 2023. See Obituary

She is survived by her two daughters: Julie Santiago and Kim Brandt-Nielsen

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Thank you to Mark Ferguson who put together this amazing tribute to her life:

Also See these links to these posts:

Global Giving: March 2023 : Oct 20, 2022

Nancy Rivard

Fly like an eagle dear Margaret, I will miss you so, but know the Angels are so happy to receive one of their own!

Wayne Lee

There will never be another Margaret. The love and dedication to helping thousands of children and their families all over the world can never be repeated. No one will ever know just how hard she worked and the countless hours put into making sure every detail of ever medical escort trip was flawlessly worked out. She problem solved as they occurred and made sure that every agency person and every medical escort was treated with respect and gratitude for what they were doing. We will all miss her so much!

Bunny Doi

Rest in Peace, Margaret.. She was my escorting director, mentor, and most of all, my friend.

I met her when I volunteered to escort children for Airline Ambassadors in 1998. When she asked me my birthday for traveling purposes and I told her my birthday. She said “No that can’t be. That’s my birthday!” I remember vividly her saying it with her sweet southern drawl. We share the same birthday and how I knew I was meant to do this with her. Thousands of children she helped, along with all these people/escorts who she inspired and touched over the years..She is a true Angel. Thank you, from bottom of my heart for what you’ve given so much of yourself. I will miss you so much.

Aviation Sans Fronteres (who worked with us from Paris France)

We are very sorry to read about this great loss. Margaret was a true and good human being, whom we have the opportunity to work with for years. She wrote us last month confirming the shut down of the children’s medical escort program, but we had no idea that it would be our last exchange.

We send our deepest condolences to Julie, Kim and her family.

It was a pleasure for us to work with all your wonderful team. We found an alternativ to keep helping Tami Shobe with her escorts, by sending French volunteers to the US and pick up the children directly from there. Should we need any assistance in US airports, we will not fail to contact you.

Cheryl Hiser Robinson

I can’t believe it… she was an exceptional person!!! Full of love and compassion… I was just going to contact her to see if we could meet when I have my layover in Atlanta next week … she will be missed by so many. I am blessed to know such a beautiful woman

Cynthia Farwell

Rest in Peace dear Margaret

Jaqueline Faust

Ohhh I’m so sad to hear about Margaret! She was sooo wonderful to do all she did to orchestrate getting the many precious and deserving children matched with escorts to bring them to get life-changing surgery! May God bless her for all the work she did for His kids!!

What a shame AA stopped helping in this very worthy cause!!

Pilar Torres

Dear Margaret,

During the time I had the privilege to volunteer as an escort, for such wonderful children to and from their countries, having you behind the scenes, coordinating it all ever so carefully, was instrumental to the whole operation. I feel very grateful, to have had a chance to work with you.;

Linda Hennig

Jenny is visiting me from Bolivia and we both remember her with such fondness. Prayers for all who knew her and will miss her.

Blessings to all.

Mary Ann Jorgensen

Nancy,

I remember our layover bus ride telling you about my volunteer work with another organization for children needing medical care.

You were so interested asked many questions.

“Airline Ambassadors” became your passion.

In time, you set up a similar program with Margaret Whitehead as the director.

Margaret was exceptional and so very professional.

This was 30+ years ago.

The children in the picture are all grown up.

Hopefully, living a good life

Linda Gwynn Walton

Truly an angel. Sending thoughts and prayers.

Jared Feldschreiber

I’m sorry.

Marilyn Tam

I’m very sorry to learn that your dear friend and colleague passed away and also sad to know that the Children’s Medical Escort program is no longer. Blessings and comfort to Margaret’s spirit, to you and all her loved ones.

Gloria Clark

Mary Wotanis

Rest in peace, dear Margaret, and thank you for all your service for so many years. I will miss our conversations and can’t begin to describe what good you had accomplished in this world

Christina Andersen

Sad to hear about Margaret, she truly was (is) an angel who made an enormous impact on children’s lives

Sandra West Stoddard

An absolutely amazing women who deeply believed in what she was doing. It was hard work for her!! I don’t think most people realized that. She continued long after she should have retired!!! She will be missed and so will the Children’s Escort Service. I was honored to be a small part of such a worthwhile program.

Bonnie Parks

Kirstin Perkins

What an amazing woman who had such an impact on everyone who worked with her and on every single child who was escorted under this program. She worked tirelessly to ensure these children made it to their medical treatments and that all of us were safe getting them there. She is a beautiful example of a life well lived and in service of others.