Peggy Jenkins

Retired Cape Girardeau teacher Peggy Jenkins, 84, of Oneonta, Ala., died Friday, Oct. 5, 2012, in Birmingham, Ala.

The daughter of Riley and Oma Scruggs Bryan, Peggy was preceded in death by her husband, William T. Jenkins; her parents; two infant sons; and Uncle Perry Hammett.

She received a master's in education from the University of Georgia and taught in Alabama and Georgia before moving to Cape Girardeau in 1966 with her husband, a professor in the history department at Southeast Missouri State University.

Following his death in 1974, Peggy continued to teach and later assisted her uncle in operating a coin and jewelry shop on Broadway. After leaving Cape Girardeau she resided in Gadsden and Oneonta, Ala.

In retirement Peggy was a member of Lester Memorial United Methodist Church in Oneonta, Blount County Low Vision Group, and Blount County Historical Society. A tireless fund raiser for many charities, she was instrumental in establishing the Blount County Memorial Museum and procuring playground equipment for the township of Susan Moore.

Her continuing interest in preserving the past led her to write histories of Wynnville and Susan Moore, Ala., and to chronicle stories of early families in the area. Over the years she also provided a loving, lifetime home for seven lucky rescued dogs.

Survivors include a brother, Robbie Bryan (Sandra); two nephews, Keith (Shauna) and Chad Bryan; a niece, Sonja White (Earl); and two great-nieces.

The funeral was held Sunday at Valley Chapel in Oneonta. Interment was in Wynnville Cemetery next to a country church her family helped build in 1876.

The family requests any memorials be sent to Southeast Missouri State University Foundation for the William T. Jenkins Memorial Scholarship.

Announcement courtesy of Ford and Sons Funeral Home.