Tipton county native Peggy Parr Haywood passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones, on February 6, 2022 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born to the late Egbert Parr and Leona Cooper Parr on November 13, 1939, Peggy was the youngest of six children and grew up in Western Valley. She attended Garland Elementary School and graduated from Byars Hall High School in 1958. She was a stellar guard on the school’s Lady Wildcats basketball team, and she continued to be a basketball fan throughout her life. After graduating high school, she worked for Southern Bell in Covington as a telephone operator where she met the love of her life, John (Jack) Haywood, from Brownsville, who also worked for Southern Bell. They were married on April 23, 1960 at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Covington, TN and made their home in Brownsville, TN.
Work took them to Memphis for seven years and then to Jackson, TN where they raised their four children, Leslie, Tracy, Beth and John. With a servant heart, Peggy nurtured her family as a devoted wife and mother. She faithfully shared her time at St. Mary’s Catholic School and Church, Jackson, TN as a parent volunteer and as a member of that loving parish community. As her children grew up, Peggy used her organizational and customer service talents for over 17 years at the Old Country Store-Casey Jones Village as a party planner and reservationist where she made long-time friends and cherished memories.
When Jack retired, the couple returned to Covington, TN in 2002 where they enjoyed golfing, gardening and spending time with Peggy’s sisters, Shirley and Clara, and extended family and friends. An active parishioner of St. Alphonsus, Peggy was a dedicated member of the church’s “Friends of the Poor” food pantry.
She is survived by her husband of 62 years: John (Jack) Haywood of Covington, TN; three daughters: Leslie Haywood-Moore (Tim) of Paducah, KY, Tracy Williams (Steve) of Pinson, TN; Beth McNeill (Bo) of Mt. Olive, NC; one son: John Haywood, Jr. of Pinson, TN; two sisters: Clara Parr and Shirley Roe, both of Covington. She was preceded in death by her two brothers, Donald Parr and Wayne Parr; one sister, Catherine Parr; and a grandson, Luke Paschall. She was proud of all ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren who will treasure their memories of her love and devotion.
Visitation will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, February 25, 2022 with the rosary at 6:30 p.m. at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Visitation will also be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 26, 2022 with a funeral mass to be celebrated at 11 a.m. A reception will follow from 12 to 2 p.m. at the church. The interment will be held at 3 p.m. at Oakwood Historic Cemetery in Brownsville, TN. Burial services are under the direction of Brownsville Funeral Home.
