By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
Peggy King was born in Iuka, Mississippi, in 1933, and married right out of high school. Her first husband was named Robert Stevenson. For one year, Peggy experienced living in New York City and worked at Bloomingdale’s in their finance department. During her time in Bloomingdale’s employ, U.S. President Harry Truman’s wife, Bess, along with their daughter, Margaret, came to shop at the iconic store. I asked Miss Peggy, “Did you get a chance to meet them?” “Oh, no,” she said and added, “We were told that we would be fired immediately if we tried to make any type of contact.” To this day, Harry Truman has remained Peggy’s favorite U.S. President.
The Stevensons had one daughter, Deborah. Bill served in the Korean War, and Peggy went back to Iuka. After the war, Bill came home and worked in Jackson, MS, at a newspaper known as the County Ledger. He was in production and delivery, and was tragically killed in an automobile accident. Peggy experienced being a widow as well as a single mom, and then she met Joe King. They married, and Joe adopted Deborah. “He was the only father Deborah has ever known,” Peggy told me. Joe was in the oil business, and they lived a life of adventure. His job took them to New Orleans; they lived in Scotland for two years and in Norway for three. Peggy especially loved the beauty of Norway with its mountains, fjords, and waterfalls. “God gave us such a beautiful country,” she said. Meanwhile, Deborah attended Ole Miss, married, and eventually she and her husband settled in Athens. Deborah has two daughters, and it was taking care of them that brought Peggy to Athens. Peggy has been a member of First United Methodist Church in Athens for many years, and thanks God for the wonderful life she has lived. Peggy’s favorite scripture is John 3:16, “For God so loved the world…” Her favorite hymn is “In The Garden,” and we sang it together.
Her favorite actor? Alan Ladd.
Her favorite actress? Jane Wyman.
Her favorite movie? Gone With The Wind. She told me that the movie was filmed about 25 miles from where she was raised in Mississippi.
She enjoys books about the Amish, and she loved to make her special dressing at Thanksgiving. Since being at Athens Health and Rehab, her favorite activity has been to play bridge. We talked at length about how popular the game was, and how almost no one plays it any more. She was also president of the Women’s Society.
I asked her how life has been for her at Athens Health and Rehab, and she responded with a forceful, “Oh gosh yes, people have taken good care of me.” I asked her if she had any advice for young people, and she said, “Remember to keep church first in your life.” Any other advice? “Don’t give up on children; they will come back.”
Wise words from a grateful woman, Miss Peggy King, a happy resident at Athens Health and Rehabilitation, LLC.
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
December 6, 2024
