Peggy M Smith

Peggy McNeill Smith surrendered her valiant fight with a chronic disease and entered the presence of her Lord surrounded by her loved ones on Sunday, May 17, 2020.

Peggy was born in Florala, AL on January 29, 1932 to Charles Berryman and Jessie Mae McNeill. She married Alto Frank Smith in 1957 and together they graduated from Auburn University in 1961 while beginning to raise a young family. They moved to Ft Walton Beach in 1962 where they have since made their home.

Peggy truly was the consummate wife, mother and homemaker. If you were in her home you knew that serving good southern food was her love language. Her pot of gumbo was unsurpassed and if your favorite dish was fried chicken gizzards then that is what she prepared for you! She doted on her friends with gifts of delicious homemade delights.

She was a woman of many interests and skills. Her sewing creations were uniquely self-designed and made for the enjoyment of many family members. She excelled in creating numerous handmade quilts over the years with various themes. She even collected and traced leaves found on the family farm to use in making her “Farm Quilt”.

Her legacy includes many handmade quilts, knitted and crocheted items to be used and treasured by family members. If you were fortunate you were the recipient of a pair of her knitted socks!  Peggy learned and taught the art of china painting and enjoyed spending time with friends in her home studio chatting and china painting.

Peggy was loved by her friends and she was dedicated to them. But, her greatest joy in life was being a mother.  She was a natural born nurturer and protector.  She was likewise loved and adored by her children. Any time was a good time to get a call or visit from her kids or grandkids.  She liked to keep up with her children and grandchildren through text and she had a group text thread called The Chickadees so she could keep tabs on her “chicks."

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Berryman and Jessie Mae and great-granddaughter Cora Villarreal. She is survived by her husband of almost 63 years, Alto Frank, sons John (Leah) Smith, Douglas (Paulette) Smith and daughters Deborah (Jerry) Limoge and Kathryn (Bill) McGuire as well as her sister Jean (Bill) Needham and cousin Carolyn Allen. She was the most adored Granny by grandchildren Candace, Jerome, Robert, Jaren, Logann, Katy, Bucky and Zack. She was blessed to be a great-grandmother to Charles, Julia, Henry, Penny, Saylor, Noelise, Emma, Lucy and Oliver.

Her everlasting legacy will be the love of Jesus that she introduced and instilled in her children and grandchildren knowing that a personal relationship with Christ is the most important thing in life on this earth. We will miss her greatly, but we have the gift of precious memories of her and times spent together to hold in our heart.

Expressions of love and memory tributes may be placed and viewed at www.emeraldcoastfuneralhome.com

Peggy’s heart was for children and she strongly supported the Florida Baptist Children’s Home. Honoring this love can continue through donations in her memory. Private services will be held at Emerald Coast Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, Florida.

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