Peggy Winstead Templeman

Peggy Elizabeth Winstead Templeman was born in Washington, DC on April 10, 1931. She was the third child of Ilva and Percy E. Thomas, Sr. The late Percy Thomas Jr. was the first born with Ruth Iris Owens as the second.

Peggy attended public schools in the District of Columbia. In 1949, she graduated Dunbar High School. She then went on to Fisk University’s graduating class of 1953, where she received a bachelor’s in psychology. Afterwards she attended Howard University where she graduated in 1960 and earned a master’s in social work.

Peggy applied to the Social Service Department at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and was hired as a psychiatric social worker. There, she met her future husband John Templeman, Sr. who was a pharmacist assistant. They married on December 16, 1961.

On September 20, 1962, Peggy and John were blessed with a baby girl, Michele Annette. About four years later, they were blessed by the birth of their son, John Jr. on New Year’s Day of 1967.

Peggy accepted a position as a child welfare social worker in the foster home care unit of the Department of Public Welfare. Later, she worked as a supervisory social worker in a private residential facility for unwed mothers. For several years, she also worked with the Department of Special Education of the District of Columbia Public School System.

She and her family joined the family church, Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.).

The following winter, Peggy and family moved into a house in N.E., D.C. where she lived until her passing on February 18, 2023.

In April of 1984, Peggy was officially acknowledged as a new member of Catholicism at St. Francis de Sales.

In 1985, Peggy founded “New Awareness, Inc.”, a non-profit, tax exempt, private, outpatient mental health facility.

In 1987 Peggy enrolled in a spirit-filled 2-year program, Education for Parish Service (EPS) at Trinity in Washington, D.C. In September of 1988, Peggy founded her second mental health organization, The Comprehensive Center for Renewal, Incorporated (CCRI).

In October 1989, Peggy completed the volunteer training course with Hospice Care of the District of Columbia. Additionally, she successfully pursued post graduate studies in social work and religion at several local universities.

Peggy’s granddaughters (Michele & John) were born in the 1990’s . Kiya Michon born on April 10, 1993, and Peggy share the same birthday. Kayla Marcel was born on February 24, 1995.

To enhance efforts in establishing CCRI as a resource within the community and beyond, Peggy developed the Youth Enrichment Support Services (Y.E.S.S.) program.

On October 8, 2000, Peggy became a member of Unity Church of Washington, D.C. She left Unity in 2005 and periodically visited the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and various other churches. Peggy searched for continuing spiritual enrichment which she found on Sunday mornings while watching religious/spiritual shows on TV. In her later months, she would watch Dr. Charles Stanley.

On October 25th 2001, Peggy and John Sr. (Johnny & Annie) were blessed with a third grandchild, Jalen Christian.

Also in the 2000s, Peggy authored I Bear A Cross: Coming Into Oneness with God.

Peggy enjoyed talking on the phone to family and friends, going to the theater and movies. She enjoyed watching soap operas – The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful were her favorites. She also loved watching So You Think You Can Dance, American Idol and Grey’s Anatomy.

Peggy dreamed of traveling nationally and internationally.

Organizations that Peggy was a member of were:

• NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness, DC

• NASW, National Association of Social Workers (ACSW)

• Fisk University Alumni Association

• Howard University Association