Margo Cain

Gabriel blew his horn and the Angel of Death peacefully carried Margo Julianna Harland Cain in her Father’s arms on April 17, 2024. 

Margo Julianna (Harland) Cain was born on November 7, 1938, to the late Andrew Harland Sr. and Elizabeth Hutchinson Harland in Clarksville, Tennessee. She was the eldest of three children. Margo is preceded in death by her Aunt Hazel Hutchinson and sister, Andree E. Harland. Margo accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at St. John Missionary Baptist in Clarksville, Tennessee. 

As a child, Margo showed great prowess in music and dance with a flair for tap dancing. She graduated from Burt High School in Clarksville, Tennessee in 1957. Marge was a member of the Burt High School Marching Band where she played trombone, and was chosen as the first female drum major her senior year. Margo was a talented tap dancer and would perform at events around the Montgomery community. 

After graduating from Burt High School, Margo enrolled at then Tennessee A & I State College, now known as Tennessee State University (TSU) where she majored in physical education.   She took her dance skills to the next level by becoming a talented member of the Pepperettes Dance Troupe. These talented young ladies performed during the halftime of TSU basketball games and at other events around the Nashville community. During her sophomore year in 1958, she was initiated into the Alpha Chi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. An active and studious Margo received her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education in 1961. She went on to earn an additional Master’s Plus 30 and a degree in Supervision and Administration. 

It was during her freshman year at “A & I,” she met her soulmate, Bobby Cain in a chemistry lab, where they quickly became enamored as their “chemistry” blossomed into a five-year courtship. Bobby and Margo wed in holy matrimony on June 23, 1962. One of her bridesmaids was one of her childhood friends and sorority sisters, Olympic gold medalist, Wilma Rudolph along with her other college roommates, Bernice Campbell, and Jewel Rogers. Soon after, the newlyweds moved to Spokane, Washington where Bobby was stationed with the United States Army and Margo began her illustrious teaching career.  

Bobby and Margo remained happily married for nearly 62 years. They were inseparable. Whenever you saw one, you saw the other. The couple was blessed to welcome their only daughter, Yvette Yolanda Cain-Frank on November 10, 1965.  Margo loved being a nurturing mother and loving wife as she doted on her daughter by exposing her to music, piano, and dance following in similar paths. 

Upon returning to Nashville in 1965, Margo began her teaching career with Metropolitan Public Schools. She taught at Wharton Junior High School, Haynes High School, Donelson High School, and her favorite, Whites Creek Comprehensive High School, where she was hired as the head of the Physical Education Department. Throughout her tenure at Whites Creek, she coached the girls’ volleyball teams and was the passionate advisor to the award-winning Cobra Halftimers teaching them a fast-paced signature entrance that they were known to execute for years. She mentored countless students and Yvette’s friends as she had a deep commitment to the success of her students, who often considered “Mrs. Cain” as a surrogate mother and confidant. Her soft-spoken spirit and kind direction made her a favorite amongst the students. She took her role in their lives very seriously as she kept up with many of her former students over the years.  After more than 35 years in education, she retired as an Assistant Principal from “The Creek, to devote her time to her favorite and only grandson, Tobias. 

Margo was an avid sports fan and was especially a die-hard fan and dedicated supporter of TSU football and basketball. Oddly enough, she was a big fan of Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.  She also found time to work with the world-renowned TSU Aristocrat of Bands Majorettes now called the Sophisticated Ladies under the direction of Professor Edward Graves and the late Benjamin Kirk. Margo was a grand lady of class, grace, and style as she loved to look her best at all times. She had a special love affair with her high-heeled shoes and collected an endless amount of Delta Sigma Theta paraphernalia. Some of her favorite pastimes were shopping and watching The View, The Young and the Restless, and CNN. 

One of her greatest joys was being “Mama” to her only grandchild, Tobias Cain Frank. She immensely enjoyed caring for Tobias as she loved nothing more than to watch him play sports; from pee wee football, YMCA basketball, and soccer, to playing football at Father Ryan High School to traveling with his AAU basketball and would sometimes be at a practice with water and snacks for the entire team. Recently, she witnessed Tobias following the legacy of his father, grandfather, and uncle as he was initiated into the Eta Beta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Although experiencing health challenges during this time, she was proud to also witness Tobias presenting his grandfather with an award of recognition for being the first African American in the South to graduate from an integrated school, following the desegregation of Clinton High School in 1956 by the Gamma Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc, at the 2024 Dr. Matthew Kennedy Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc Talent Hunt mandated program.

From 2003 until 2021 when the pandemic stopped a lot of social gatherings, she and her lunch group affectionately called “the Group” met every 2^nd Tuesday for their monthly “chat and chew.” This group consisted of her dear friends all of whom were former educators. They were Gwendolyn B. Smith (deceased), Patricia Campbell (deceased), Linda Pegues-Brinkley, Janie Bates, Lora A. Alexander, Marian McDonald, and Evanda McDowell. They met for their Reunion Lunch in February of 2023. 

Margo was a faithful member of Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church continuing to attend service online when her health would not allow her to attend in person.  She was also a faithful friend of Asbury United Methodist Church in Clinton, TN. 

Margo’s memory will be cherished and kept alive by her husband of nearly sixty-two years, Bobby L. Cain; her loving and devoted daughter, Yvette Y. Cain Frank, son-in law Paul Frank; her pride and joy, grandson Tobias Cain Frank; brother Andrew Harland, Jr., (Hollywood, CA); god son and nephew, James Cain, III (North Carolina); George (Diane) Moore, Knoxville, TN; James (Thelma) Cain, (Knoxville, TN); Shirley Weaver (Oak Ridge, TN); college roommates, Jewel Rogers, (Knoxville, TN); Bernice (Jimmy) Campbell, (Nashville, TN), the late Wilma Rudolph (Clarksville, TN); adopted children, Christopher Reed, Tevin Thompson, Grant Winrow, Van Phillips, Camille Wade, Cristi Scott Ligon, Julie Martin Walker, Tammi Edwards, Marion Upton Parks, Bernadette Johnson, and Zeta (Jeff) Williams, a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousins, former students, colleagues, sorority sisters and friends.