Peggy S. Burbage

Peggy Lou Shealy Burbage was born on June 25,1932 and was the eldest of 4 children born to Melton Pinkney Shealy and Lois Verta Shehane Shealy. She passed away on Saturday October 12, 2024 at home with her family.

Her childhood home was located at the spot now occupied by the Weco Biergarten. Each Saturday she and her sister Norma would spend the day watching cowboy movies at the Dixie Theater. They were not allowed to cook at home because their parents were afraid they might burn or waste the food (which would have been a big problem at that time). Peggy got her first “real job” at Clark's Beauty Shop on State Street at the age of 13, and worked every summer afterward at soda fountains or restaurants. She earned her own money for school clothes and activities.

The graduating class of (what would have been 1949) Brookland-Cayce High School was the first to go to the 12th grade. Peggy was voted “Best All Around” (along with Carol Lucas) by their classmates. She played on the basketball team, and played the saxophone in the B-C Band. She and Norma enjoyed riding on the school bus with the band to football games.

Peggy had dated throughout her high school and college years, but the man who stole her heart was Roy Burbage. They married on March 12, 1954, and 7 days later he was deployed with the US Army during the Korean Conflict.

During the nearly two years that he was away, Peggy went to work for the Richland County Department of Public Welfare (now Richland County DSS).

After Roy returned home, they had 4 children – as well as Peggy's younger brother and sister who came to live with them after both of their parents died at a very young age. Peggy and Roy had only each other to rely on for many years: his parents were living in Aruba, her parents were deceased, and her only other sister had a husband and 4 children of their own.

Peggy stayed at home and brought up the children for 12 years. During that time, she went back to graduate school at the University of SC and earned a Master of Arts in Education/Teaching Social studies.

Peggy was a teacher at Airport High School where she worked from 1970 until 1993. She developed and taught the most practical “life skills” class that was ever offered at the high school level (in the opinion of this writer), and called it “Me Tarzan, You Jane”. She taught her students about meal planning, shopping, rent vs mortgage, paying taxes, budgeting, parenting, and much more.

Peggy and Roy were both interested in life-long learning. She was an avid reader, particularly of “real” ghost stories. She enjoyed going on “ghost tours” at cemetaries or other historic places. She and Roy kept a suitcase packed and ready at all times. They enjoyed a total of 32 cruises over many years. Many of their trips were reunions of folks who had grown up in Aruba (as Roy did), and those took place all over the country (and sometimes in Aruba too). Another favorite trip was to Grand Junction, CO to visit with her younger sister's family. They often continued their education with classes on-line through Hillsdale College, the Great Courses, or other learning opportunities.

Peggy was always active and involved in the church. Her “home church” was Brookland United Methodist Church, but over the years she did have membership in several others, including St. John's United Methodist in Lugoff, The Chapel at Lake Wateree, and Congaree Presbyterian Church in Cayce.

Around the age of 60, she began to have some health challenges with heart disease. Because of her personal experience with these types of medical concerns, and because of her years of working as a teacher, she decided to become a “Red Dress” speaker for WomenHart (Womens' heart health). Her sister, Norma, often accompanied her for these events. Peggy and Roy also volunteered for about 12 years at Providence Hospital in NE Columbia. They enjoyed working with patients and with staff, and they learned a great deal from the visits from “The Sisters of Charity” (Nuns who oversaw the operations of the hospital).

Everyone knew that Peggy had significant medical challenges for years, but it was Roy who passed away unexpectedly in 2016. Peggy's heart was broken and her spirit crushed, but she was not destroyed. Her family rallied around and were thankful to have some extra time to learn so much more about her (and our father). Especially Donna, who went well “above and beyond” the call to provide daily care.

Peggy often referred to herself as “The Queen Bee” - not because she gave the title to herself. She said that was the way she had always been treated by others. She and Roy had many challenges throughout their 63 years together, but they had an abundance of blessings as well. Roy reminded her frequently to “keep on the sunny side” of life.

In addition to her parents, Peggy was pre-deceased by her husband, Roy Burbage, and her sister, Norma Timmerman. She is survived by her children; Robert Otis (Jan) Burbage, Donna Chambley, William Vance (Bill) Burbage (Cecelia), and Becky Massingale (Steve). Her siblings; Melton Shealy (Edith), Lois Bogart, and brother in law, Otis Timmerman. Her grandchildren; Amanda Freitas, Vance Burbage, Jordan Hickman (Reid), and Joseph Baird. Great Grandchildren; Kensi Freitas, Peyton Freitas, Nathaniel Diaz, and Collins Hickman.

The family would like to express appreciation to Senior Health Associates and Dr. David Miller, Empyrean Hospice, Walmart Pharmacy staff (Old Barnwell Road), MSA Home Health and Hospice, Susan Howell, and Right at Home for their care and assistance. Also, our thanks goes out to SC Assistive Technology for help with getting a transport chair to use for trips outside the home.

Memorials can be made to the following: First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC, 12 Springs Community Church in Lexington, WomenHeart.org, or Brookland United Methodist Church in West Columbia.

A service will be held on Monday, October 21, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Brookland United Methodist Church 541 Meeting St. West Columbia, SC 29169, family will receive friends, 1 hour prior to the service at the church. An inurnment will follow at Elmwood Cemetery.