Mary Ann Meadows Peeler

Mary Ann Meadows Peeler, age 80, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 19, 2024, with her son by her side.

Mary Ann was born April 10, 1943, in Washington, Georgia, where she grew up. She was a 1961 graduate of Washington-Wilkes High School where she played the saxophone in the Tiger Band and Jazz Band. After graduation from high school, Mary Ann attended the Woman’s College of Georgia in Milledgeville where she majored in Business.

Mrs. Peeler worked with several businesses in Washington including Almar, Leard’s Florist, and, of course, Meadows Foods, which was started by her father and uncle and carried on by her brother, Austin, and husband, Paul. She joined Farmers and Merchants Bank in 1980 and was very proud of her service and relationships with the people of Wilkes and surrounding counties. After her retirement in 2011, Mary Ann moved part-time to Gwinnett County to be able to spend more time with her children and grandchildren.

Mary Ann did not like to “sit around.” In earlier years, she served as President of the Jaycettes and was a constant volunteer at Wilkes Academy for Halloween Carnival, The Bell Ringer’s Cookbook, concession stand, chicken BBQs, grounds and building clean up, and whatever else needed to be done. She loved dancing at the Country Club and VFW, as well as clogging with the Master City Cloggers in Augusta. She also enjoyed working in her yard after work and on weekends, which she described as “cheaper than therapy”.

Her idea of relaxation was a trip to the beach. Jekyll Island and Tybee were favorites. But nothing made her happier than a trip to Hilton Head Island, where she found delight in having a cool drink and laughing with her family under beach umbrellas and, with her binoculars, watching ships on the horizon as they made their way into the port of Savannah and back out to sea.

Mary Ann was predeceased by her father, Thomas Austin Meadows; her mother, Susie Callaway Meadows; her brother, Thomas Austin Meadows, Jr, along with loves in her life who met her on the other side.

She is survived by her daughter, Natalie Peeler Coleman of Lawrenceville; her son, Paul Peeler, Jr (Michele) of Stone Mountain; her grandchildren, Paul Peeler III (Haley), Samantha Peeler Mitchell (Zach), Liam Coleman, and Ross Coleman; her sister, Laura Meadows Rocker of Statesboro; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

Highest thanks to the caregivers and staff of Sunrise at Webb Gin and Capstone Hospice for the generous respect, attention, and tenderness shown to Mary Ann during her final weeks.

Visitation for family and friends will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Hopkins Funeral Home in Washington, Georgia from 6-8 pm.

For friends and family in the Atlanta area, visitation will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at the home of Paul and Michele Peeler from 3-5 pm.

A private memorial and interment of her ashes will be held in the waters of Hilton Head later this year.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (nami.org).

Life is short. Leave no lovely word unsaid.