Margaret L. Brown
Published 12:00 am Thursday, October 14, 2004
Margaret Louise Brown, 71, of Moorestown, N.J., a health and physical education teacher at Lenape High School for 23 years before her retirement in 1992, died on October 8, 2004, of complications from Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after a courageous 11 year battle against the disease.
Peggy, as she was known by family and friends, was born in 1933 in Philadelphia and graduated from John Bartram High School in 1951. During high school, Peggy excelled in both academics and athletics, receiving 10 varsity letters for field hockey, basketball and softball. She was extremely proud that her seven granddaughters, ages 6 to 16, are all enjoying successful field hockey seasons this fall.
In 1955, Peggy graduated from West Chester University with a degree in health and physical education. She then taught physical education at various schools in Pennsylvania.
Peggy married George C. Brown in 1956 and had two daughters, Janet Lynn and Susan, before moving to and settling in Moorestown, N.J. Peggy taught in the Moorestown school district until the birth of her third daughter, Alison, after which she began her long and esteemed career at Lenape High School.
During her tenure at Lenape, Peggy continued her education at Temple University, earning her master’s degree in psycho-educational processes in 1974. Peggy spent many hours as a teacher representative, participating in contract negotiations on behalf of her colleagues. Peggy also worked to make significant, and sometimes controversial, changes to the outdated high school health curriculum to better educate her students.
Peggy loved to travel, especially to Scotland, the birthplace of her parents Arthur and Isabel Bradley. She also loved gardening, painting, reading good books and watching sports. But Peggy’s greatest passion was spending time with her nine grandchildren, Courtney, Olivia and C.J. White; Alison, Jessica and Claire Kemper; and Margaret, Annika and Anders Nissen. During the yearly family vacations in Ocean City, N.J., Grandmom &uot;Peg&uot; or just &uot;Peg&uot; taught her grandchildren the art of flying kites, spotting dolphins and searching for sea glass.
In addition to George, her devoted husband of 47 years, her loving daughters and sons-in-law, Dr. Janet Lynn Brown and Keith Kemper, Susan and Clay White of Suffolk, and Alison and Leif Nissen, Peggy is survived by her 93-year-old mother, Isabel Bradley. She is also survived by her younger sisters, Janet Kondas, Helen Smiley and Barbara Searl; sister-in-law, B.J. Frasier; and many loving nieces, nephews, grandnephews and a grandniece. Sadly, Peggy was predeceased by her older brother, Robert Bradley, earlier this year.
Peggy’s family extends an invitation to all of those mourning her loss to attend a &uot;Celebration of Life&uot; service in her honor at 1 p.m. Friday, October 15, 2004, at the First United Methodist Church of Moorestown, 446 Camden Avenue, Moorestown, N.J.
Friends may call from noon to 1 p.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Peggy’s memory may be made in honor of Margaret L. Brown to the Department of Liver Research at Rush University Hospital, Office of Philanthropy, 1700 W. Van Buren St., Suite 250, Chicago, IL 60612
Percy Ray Lassiter
Percy Ray Lassiter, 59, was abruptly taken from us on October 9, 2004 in Hertzibah, Ga. He was born in Edenton, N.C. to Victoria Newby Lassiter and the late Johnnie Lassiter on June 24, 1945. He was also predeceased by two brothers, James and Herman Lassiter.
&uot;Perk,&uot; as he was affectionately called by his family and some of his friends, was adored by all. He attended school in Holland and retired from Lipton Tea Company after 20 years of service. Percy was a member of the Pulaski Baptist Church and will be missed dearly by his friends and family.
He leaves to cherish his memories one daughter, Tasha Langely of Franklin; one son, Percy Ray Lassiter, Jr. (Carmelita) of Clayton, Ga.; his mother, Victoria Lassiter of Suffolk; four grandchildren, Dejon (D.J.), Harmony, Melody and Brittany; two brothers Isaac Lassiter (Bertha) of Suffolk and Norman Lassiter of Newport News; five sisters, Mabel Lassiter of Newport News, Beatrice Wolfrey, Clara Lassiter and Cynthia Matthew of Suffolk and Fannie Evans of Eatonton, Ga.; two brother-in-laws; one sister-in-law; four godchildren, three uncles, two aunts, a very special friend Bobby Norfleet, nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.
Viewing will be held from noon to 7 p.m. on October 14, 2004 at the T. E. Cooke-Overton Funeral Home. The service is on Friday, October 15, 2004 at Pulaski Baptist Church, 6431 Carrsvile Highway, Franklin. The Interment is at the Mt. Sinai Baptist Church Cemetery.
Professional Services entrusted to T.E. Cooke Overton Funeral Home.
Mrs. Luvenia Watson
Mrs. Luvenia Watson, of the 1600 block of Nansemond Parkway, Suffolk, died on October 10, 2004 in Obici Hospital. A native of Suffolk, she was the daughter of the late Geneva Slade Ellis and the wife of the late Hercules Watson.
She was a member of Metropolitan Baptist Church, and retired from Parker Peanut Co.
She is survived by a granddaughter, Stacey Arrington of Silver Spring, Md.; Goddaughter, Donyall Peele of Newport News, Va.; son-in-law, Robert Arrington, of Richmond; cousins, Willie Brown and wife of Gates, N.C. and Alice Eason of Sunbury, N.C.; loving friends Dana Robinson and Ophelia McCray, both of Suffolk.
The funeral service will be held Friday, October 15, 2004 at 1 p.m. in Metropolitan Baptist Church by Dr. Robert Hobbs. Interment will be in the Paul Branch Church Cemetery. Crocker Funeral Home, Inc. is handling arrangements.