Peggy Darden Dallas

Peggy Darden Dallas, beloved wife, daughter, mother, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully encircled by the love and prayers of her family, on Wednesday, October 14, 2015. Born on November 3, 1932 and raised in Clinton, North Carolina, Peggy graduated from Clinton High School in 1951. While in high school, she met the love of her life, Del Dallas, who was selling Bibles door-to-door during a summer break from college. Peggy and Del married in 1951 and then moved to Jacksonville in 1966, when he accepted a position with L.T. Acosta, known today as Acosta Sales and Marketing. She dedicated her life to her family, raising three daughters and actively supporting her loving husband as he emerged as a leader in the food brokerage business. Peggy was cherished by her family and close friends for her sharp wit, strong passion, and her independent and feisty nature. Her strong Christian faith led her to support numerous charities and be an active member of Southside United Methodist Church. One of her favorite pastimes was playing in a weekly bridge group at San Jose Country Club. During the summer months, Peggy enjoyed spending time at her mountain home in Cashiers, North Carolina. Her husband, Del Dallas, was treated for gastrointestinal cancer at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston before he passed away in 2004, and together, they established the Delmer W. and Peggy A. Dallas Endowment Fund to support the Gastric Cancer Research Program at M.D. Anderson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Allen Clement “AC” and Juanita Darden; her two brothers, Clarence Darden and AC Darden, Jr., and her husband, Del. Peggy is survived by her three daughters, Debbie McGehee (Sutton), Rhonda Donovan (Tom), and Kim Alexander, all who reside in Jacksonville; seven grandchildren, Amanda Jackson (Matt), Ray and Jenny McGehee, Claire, JT, Darden and Dallas Alexander; and four great- grandchildren, Sutton, Emmy, Charlie and Cate Jackson.

The family will receive friends from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday, October 18, 2015 at Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Cemetery 4801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL. A Celebration of Peggy’s life will be held for family and friends on Monday, October 19, 2015 at 11:30 a.m. at Southside United Methodist Church, 3120 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL, officiated by Pastor Bruce Jones. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made to the Delmer W. and Peggy A. Dallas Endowment Fund at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston or to Dreams Come True in Jacksonville.

Please Sign the guestbook at www.hardagegiddensoaklawnchapel.com

HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Blvd is serving the family.