Margaret Peek Coley

Margaret Ellen Peek Coley, 93, of Oxford, Alabama, passed away Tuesday, March 7, 2017, at Regional Medical Center in Anniston, Alabama. Visitation will be held Thursday, March 9, 2017 from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm at Lakeview Baptist Church in Oxford with a memorial service to follow at 2:00 pm. The Rev. Jerry Starling and Rev. Chris Spurlin will be officiating. Burial will be in Forestlawn Gardens. Mrs. Coley was born January 8, 1924 to James Archibald Peek and Goldie Mae Haynes Peek. She grew up in the Oxford community where she graduated from Oxford High School in 1942. In 1946, she married the love of her life, Melvin Lamar Coley. She worked hard all her life, juggling a career with raising children, grandchildren, and serving others in her church and community. After working several years at General Electric, she became secretary for her church, Lakeview Baptist, after which she became involved with the local Cerebral Palsy center. Eventually she became its director and devoted many years to improving the lives of the children and adults that passed through there. The center was named in her honor prior to her retirement in 1994. She continued to work many more years using her expertise in sales and fundraising at the Anniston Star newspaper. She loved cooking and spent much time preparing dishes for others in her church and community, particularly at Christmas, for which she became known for her fruitcake cookies and ‘iced’ potato candy. But most of all, she loved her family and always cherished her time with all her siblings, nephews and nieces, cousins, and other family members. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother and will be greatly missed. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers John Edward Peek and Ernie Legrand Peek, and sister Ruby Lee Johns. She is survived by her sisters Geraldine Reid, Nella Mae Calhoun, her two sons Johnny Coley (Sara), James Coley; grandchildren Faith Coley, Brandon Coley (Stacey), Andrew Coley (Rachel), Bryan Coley (Harmony), and Cameron Coley; nine great grandchildren, six great-great grandchildren, Angie Coley and a host of nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Andrew Coley, Bryan Coley, Brandon Coley, Cameron Coley, Kevin Wells, and Timothy Calhoun. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the East Central Alabama United Cerebral Palsy, 415 Castle Ave Anniston, AL 36201.

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Margaret Peek Coley

January 8, 1924 - March 7, 2017