Margie Ardella Wise

Remembering Margie Ardella Wise

Margie Ardella Wise, affectionately known as Mickey, was the second child born to the late Melvin Elijah and Dorothy Edena Hackett on September 17th, 1944, departed this earthly life on April 13th, 2025.

Margie had a childhood surrounded by close family who resided on the same street affectionately known as “Hackett ‘s Hill”. The only girl in her immediate family, she held lots of responsibility in caring for four brothers. That background included being the peace maker and referee many times over the years as a sister and as parent to children of her own.

Margie grew up in Glenelg, MD and received her education in the Howard County School System where she attended Cooksville Elementary and Harriet Tubman Senior High School. She graduated in the class of 1962, where she was voted most Popular and one of the friendliest persons. She participated in Majorettes, the National Homemakers America and wanted to be a nurse according to the 1962 Nambut yearbook. Margie was an intelligent student and had an opportunity for a scholarship to Morgan State University. As God’s plan would have it, she met Mr. Ellis Wise in High School, and they were united in Marriage on July 14th, 1962. The marriage and partnership of coparenting their children lasted 36 years until Ellis’ death in 1998.

Margie was a great homemaker who cooked, sewed and crocheted during her down time. There was rarely a time when there were not three-square meals on her table with enough leftover just in case someone came by. (This included breakfast sandwiches & late-night burgers for her son/neighbor Wayne and Chris’ s orders of fried chicken). She and Ellis often entertained at their home in Clarksville where family and friends enjoyed cookouts, homemade dinners and laughing at their adventurous stories. As parents they did not let four children stop them from going places because often, we sat in the car, hanging out the window yelling to other kids while they hung out with the adults. They visited friends from Marriottsville to Montgomery County so there was always fun on the weekends. Over the years she kept up with her friends including Ms. Audrey Berry and attended events for Harriet Tubman Alumni. As the children got older, she learned to drive and got her license. She then began working while still maintaining a stable home environment. Margie began work at APL in the cafeteria and later moved into positions as a Mail Clerk, the Classified Mail section, and held a top security clearance. She retired in 2008 with over 30 years of service.

She simultaneously worked a second job at the Rouse Company Building in the evenings for years as a Security Guard at the front desk. She made sure all visitors were checked in and employees were greeted with a smile. As if that were not enough, she sold Amway and went to sales conventions. She did not hesitate to clean houses and commercial buildings with her daughters (Wanda, president of Wise Way Cleaning) and Lil Margie the unofficial driver to DC, Harford County and other areas. Margie also had a long-term client in Ellicott (the late Ms. Kathy Weissig) who she inherited from her late Aunt Celeste Thorne until 2020 when Covid kept her from being able to work in proximity of others.

Margie bought her childhood home in the late 70’s and enjoyed being near Uncle Nubby & Uncle Bill Hackett and all the cousins. Even up until late she shared food that she picked up at Food Give Aways with cousins. There she socialized with people she knew or met over the years. Even when she went shopping, there was rarely a time she didn’t get something for others she thought they might need.

Margie loved restaurants and made sure to “mention” all the ones she wanted to go to with her children, and grandchildren. There was sure to be some shrimp, scallops or oysters involved beginning with chicken wings as a starter. She preferred places that had a homemade taste rather than chain restaurants. She spent time with the various children & grands and not once could she get their names straight. However, she was proud of us all and cheered on each thing her children and grandchildren did, but she also let us, and our friends know if we didn’t do something right. That’s how she got the title of “Momma or Grandma” to all the younger generations. She never hesitated to open her home to children and grandchildren if we needed a place to stay.

Margie liked going on trips with Eyre’s bus company to sight see. Her most enjoyable trips were seeing the big homes down South and going up North to see lighthouses which she collected (along with clocks).  However, the one time she got on a plane to the Bahamas, she vowed to never do that again. Margie liked music and enjoyed occasional concerts. The look of surprise when she had close seats for BB King was priceless. The sounds of Walter Jackson, Bobby Blu Bland and others was played in her quiet time.  However, her favorite thing to do was to look at the news, giving everyone a full report on the politics of the day and you’d better not turn away from MSNBC or everybody got in trouble. During holidays she spent time with her brother Allen and his family, traveling to her nieces’ homes. She & Allen went to Sight and Sound for plays, then stopped at the ALL You Can Eat spots. She also often visited with Amy, where they’d talk for hours.

Most importantly, Margie was a child of God as a member of Full Gospel Baptist Church. The joke was she didn’t know it was a Baptist church until she ended up in the baptismal pool at Guilford being baptized by the Late Rev. Dr. John L. Wright. She’s made many connections in church and often attended with “Lil Margie”. She especially loved attending every event and concert that featured her cousin the Late Winfield Parker.

Margie is survived by: her brother Allen Hackett (Ernestine); her Aunt Pauline Hackett; sister-in-law Amie Hackett; brother-n-law, Elmer Wise; also in laws, The Fowler Family; children, Margie Matthews, Wayne, Wanda (Kenneth “Poncho” Johnson)and Allen Wise; grandchildren, Dwayne, De Wanda  (Alano Miller), Niquita, Brandy (Charles Morris), Mercedez, Kaiya, Amani and Lexi; Great-grands, Anthony, Khalil, Malachi, Skylar, Savhanna, Aaliyah, Charleigh, Braylon, Leighton, Ahnalea, Roman and Winter. She also had three attentive nieces: Tanya, Kimberly Hackett-Townsend, Tracee and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Melvin, John & Wayne Hackett.

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