Margaret Ree Burnett was born on July 6, 1939, the fourth child of seven sisters, to the union of Annie Ruth and Ernest Burnett in Aberdeen, Mississippi. She moved to East St. Louis, Illinois with her family as a child. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Willie Rush and her sister Ernestine Harrison.

Margaret received her formal education from East St. Louis Public Schools attended Dunbar Elementary, Hughes Quinn Junior High, graduating from Lincoln Senior High School Class of 1958. She was united in Holy Matrimony to Willie Rush in 1959 and from this union was born two children Kimberley and Korey.

Margaret confessed her faith in Christ and was a member of Saint Joseph Catholic Church for almost 42 years. Margaret was a very loving person who was committed to her children, grandchildren, sisters and family. She loved to entertain and spent hours on end planting flowers in her garden.

She was employed with East Saint Louis District 189 for 30 years and the State of Illinois Comprehensive Mental Health Parenting for Success Program. After retiring from District 189, she was employed with Catholic Urban Programs where she tutored local children.

Margaret departed this life on Wednesday, May 24, 2017. She leaves to cherish her memory: her two children Kimberley Rush, Korey Rush, 2 grandchildren Korey Rush, Jr and Kimberlyn Rush, 5 sisters Sirvella Oakes of (O'Fallon, IL), Sarah Burnett of (Cahokia, IL), Charity Stewart of (East St. Louis, IL), Katie Smith of (Belleville, IL) and Gloria Marshall of (Belleville, IL). Sister in-law Katherine Greer of (East St. Louis, IL), brothers in-law Raymond Rush (Jackie) of (Dayton, OH), Ernest Rush (Regina) of (Shiloh, Illinois). In laws: Lena Rush of (Florissant, Missouri), Rev. Moses Townsend of (Webster Groves, MO), William McAllister along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends.