Peggy Barefoot Bradshaw

Peggy was born in Newton Grove, N.C. on September 21, 1932 to the late Itha and Mollie Barefoot. She was raised in Newton Grove where she attended Newton Grove High School, and later, Atlantic Christian College in nearby Wilson, N.C. She married her high school sweetheart, John Allen Bradshaw, on October 5, 1951 in Newton Grove.

In December 1958, after John’s service in the USAF, Peggy and John moved to Satellite Beach, Fla. where he was employed at the Cape Canaveral Space Center. In January 1963, Peggy and John moved to the Village of Palm Springs, Fla. where they settled and raised their family.

Peggy always had a love for music, sports, and life in general, all traits that she passed on to her children and grandchildren. As a piano player herself, Peggy encouraged her children to pick up an instrument and learn to play. At times Peggy and John had to sacrifice to make sure the kids had a piano in the home and instruments to play. To this day, they all enjoy their music, with son Gerall still working in the industry as a professional DJ. Peggy loved the Beatles, Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, and of course, Elvis. In highschool and college, Peggy was quite the basketball player. Growing up the Bradshaw’s always had a “hoop” in the driveway to keep their kids busy and entertained. Peggy took pride in the Bradshaw house being the hub of activity for neighborhood kids. From rock bands practicing in the carport, with Lilly Green on vocals, to David Christensen somersaulting on the backyard trampoline, Peggy was there cheering them on. Peggy loved to play bingo, she took pride in her Coach sneaker shoe collection, she loved spending time at her N.C. home with family and friends, and she truly enjoyed a good cigar.

Peggy worked as a Palm Springs Public Safety Department school crossing guard at Clifford O. Taylor/Kirklane Elementary School from 1974 to 2008 (34-years), and as an Avon Lady from the early 70’s until her death. Peggy loved to share stories about her work: Once, while on the corner, a drunk man propositioned her, and another time a motorist squirted her with a water gun. But her favorite story was about organizing a small crowd of school kids on the corner to do the YMCA song for the passing YMCA bus each day. Referring to the snow of 1977, she once said in a newspaper interview, “I’ve stood out there through rain, snow, and everything.” On her first day as an Avon lady, she knocked on the door of a man that had just lost his wife. When Peggy arrived home after a hard day of knocking on doors, she looked in the mirror only to see that her Avon mascara had run down her face. Shaking her head, and with a smile on her face, she would say, “I looked like a clown.” Through her work, at home, and while out and about with friends, Peggy touched and influenced many lives. It was not unusual for her to have middle-aged adults approach and say, “Hey, you were my school crossing guard; you even crossed my kids.”

After retiring in 2008, Peggy and John discovered and became active with the local VFW, Eagles, and American Legion clubs. Peggy cherished the time that she spent sitting and laughing with her friends on a nightly basis, and having her “doctor ordered” rum and coke. She did, however, take one night off a week to stay home and visit with a friend so John could have a night out with the guys; it was aptly referred to as, “Thursdays with Doris.”

To the end, Peggy had a smile on her face and a warm feeling in her heart, knowing that her kindness, guidance, and spirit made such a positive impression on so many lives. She was an incredible daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend, and she was incredibly proud of her children and grandchildren. Peggy, know that your family and friends love and miss you, and that we will one day be together again. Tell Elvis that we all say hello; and kudos Peggy for a life well done!

Survivors include her husband, John Bradshaw; brother, Carlton Barefoot; three sons and daughter-in-laws, Gerall and Patty Bradshaw; Mark and Teresa Bradshaw; Timmy and Pat Bradshaw; One daughter and son-in-law, Mollie and Ron Heinle; 8 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; and too many other relatives and friends to name.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Itha and Mollie Barefoot; brother, Robert Allen Barefoot; and sister, Grace Best Blake.

The family has designated Special Olympics Florida for memorial contributions; designate Peggy Bradshaw as the honoree. give.specialolympics.org