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Peggy Maxine Saunders (Honey), born July 4, 1942 to Rev. James E. Prather and Edna Prather, was called home on Monday January 17, 2022.
A longtime resident of Montgomery County, Peggy attended Lincoln High School before ultimately moving to Carver High. It was at Carver High where she met her loving husband Denver. If you ever wondered what true love looks like, all you had to do was watch Peggy and Denver. They shared 56 years of wedded bliss.
Peggy had dreams of becoming a teacher, flight attendant, or a model. One of her own teachers told her that anyone could become a model, so become a teacher. Ultimately, Peggy decided to forgo college and started working at Sew & Save in Rockville and Wheaton before becoming a long distance telephone operator with C & P phone company.
Eventually Peggy obtained a job at the National Bureau of Standards, now NIST, where she worked in the telephone office, library and public affairs office. Peggy would say that one of her most interesting calls came from a child asking a question about weights and measures. Peggy quickly and efficiently connected the child to the appropriate office only to have the child call back and say “Ma, why did you send me to weights and measures?”. It was Shelly calling to ask her a question about something she was trying to bake. Boy did we have a laugh that day! Peggy retired after 26 year in the federal government. She received the Crittenden Award and a Bronze Medal for outstanding service.
After retirement, Peggy took care of her grandchildren for several years. These years she held dear.
After that Peggy started working as a Hallmark Card Specialist with CVS. Peggy loved working with the greeting cards. While there she was featured in the Hallmark national newsletter for her outstanding work. Peggy worked for Hallmark for 15 years.
Some of Peggy’s most treasured family memories came during her vacations to Wildwood, NJ, road trips with Denver, annual Fourth of July parties, Redskins v. Cowboys gatherings, pokeno parties, her one of a kind tea party, halloween parties, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners and sleigh riding in Prathertown. Peggy loved to entertain and she loved her family. We always knew when it was time for the parties to be over because Peggy would begin to act silly. She’d start laughing uncontrollably or dancing in a funny manner. Someone would always say “Peggy’s tired”. Peggy wasn’t afraid to be a little silly to make others laugh.
A long time member of Poplar Grove Baptist Church, Peggy truly loved the Lord. She enjoyed welcoming the visitors, singing in the choir and she loved her church family. One of Peggy’s most cherished church memories was the day Denver was baptized. Peggy shouted so much and got so overjoyed that she actually missed the baptism.
In reflecting on her own life Peggy wrote: Looking back, my life has been fantastic. Denver has showered me with too many blessings to count. I’ve seen and felt joy in my heart watching our children’s dreams come true (Shelly, Steve and Tracy). My grandchildren have shown so much compassion and love and gratitude that only a grandmother could cherish in her heart. Now I just thank God for today.
Peggy was truly a loving wife to her husband Denver and an amazing mother and mother-in-law to Steve, Michelle (Shelly) and Tracy. She adored her three grandchildren, Kevin, Sierra and Savannah. She is survived by her sisters, Phillis Copeland, Carolyn Howard (husband Roland), Sharon Prather, sister-in- law Lisa Deal (husband John), brother-in-law Marvin Saunders (wife Diane), devoted friends, Carolyn Smith and Marcia Baxter and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
ARRANGEMENTS
All services to be held at Poplar Grove Baptist Church located at 14625 Jones Lane, North Potomac, MD 20878.
There will be two walk-through viewings as follows:
January 25, 2022 6:00 – 8:00pm
January 26, 2022 9:00 – 11:00 am
A Celebration of Life and Homegoing will be held on January 26, 2022 immediately following the viewing.
Burial to be held at the Poplar Grove Baptist Church cemetery.
We ask that due to COVID, and out of respect for the family, that you attend one of the walk-through viewings. There will be a video feed available for the Celebration of Live and Homegoing. Masks are required to attend any of the events at Poplar Grove Baptist Church.
Repast is limited to only family members due to COVID.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Peggy Maxine Saunders, please visit our floral store.