SUFFOLK — On Jan. 14, 2014, Nancy Carroll Howell Peace left this wonderful world for an even more beautiful and everlasting one.

She was born on Aug. 22, 1936 to her loving and supportive parents, William Carroll and Alease Russell Howell. She was always a “Suffolk girl,” graduating from Suffolk High School in 1954. She earned an Associate Degree from Radford College and on Sept. 2, 1956, she married her BEST FRIEND FOR LIFE, Stuart E. (Ted) Peace. While Ted finished college, entered the military and then had a career in sales, Nancy made homes for them in Atlanta, Ga., El Paso, Texas, and Norfolk, and finally settled back home in Suffolk. For 57 years — in the good times — the bad and sad times — their love and family devotion never wavered. They were the proud parents of two sons, Whitney Stuart Peace and David Howell Peace.

At the age of 42, Nancy returned to the work place as a Teacher’s Aide in the Suffolk Public Schools. She often said that she hadn’t done anything “great” with her life. However, the students who passed through her elementary school classes would disagree. She touched and changed the lives of all the students she taught. For the rest of their lives, they will remember how she could make a story come to life. When Ted retired, Nancy retired alongside him so that they could enjoy their true legacy — their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Nancy was a member of Trinity Christian Church, where she taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, played the piano, actively participated in the Ladies Auxiliary and took care of numerous unseen church needs for many years. Within the community Nancy had a wide circle of friends, acquaintances and former students. Members of her family often spoke of her trip to the grocery store taking the better part of a day due to her stopping and chatting.

Nancy was predeceased by her parents, William Carroll and Alease Russell Howell, daughter-in-law, Kim Presson Peace, and grandson, Nathan Carroll Peace.

Nancy is survived by her devoted husband, Stuart E. (Ted) Peace; sons, Whitney S. Peace and David H. Peace (Brenda); granddaughters, Tabitha P. Sidwell (Chris), Tara M. Peace (Kevin), Kristi L. Peace; great-grandchildren, Emmett Reid Knox, Olivia Carroll Sidwell, Whitney Ann Sidwell; brother, Donald H. Howell (Sue); one aunt, Elaine Howell Gardner; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and a special friend, Kathy O’Keefe, and her children, Kasey and Ashley.

Nancy will be remembered for her exuberance for life by all who knew and loved her. She will be greatly missed.

A funeral will be conducted on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014, at 2 p.m. by Burt Chittum and Dave Evans in the R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory, 509 W. Washington St., Suffolk, with burial following at Holly Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends in the funeral home on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and other times at the residence. In lieu of flowers and at Nancy’s request, please make donations to the Nathan Carroll Peace Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Holy Neck Christian Church, 4400 Holy Neck Road, Suffolk, or to the Nansemond-Suffolk Volunteer Rescue Squad. Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.