Former candidate for North Carolina lieutenant governor Margaret Taylor Harper has died at age 92.

Harper's son Ed said she died Sunday at Duke Hospital in Durham from complications related to a stroke she had last week.

The Brunswick County native ran for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor in 1968, finishing second to Pat Taylor. She ran again four years later, losing to eventual winner Jim Hunt.

She operated a local insurance agency and also ran the State Port Pilot newspaper in Southport for her husband while he served during World War II.

Harper also was past president of the North Carolina Federation of Women's Clubs and leader in the North Carolina Press Association.

A memorial service will be held this weekend at a Southport church.