Peggy Butler

Peggy had a classic sense of style. Her love for fashion began in her late teens when she began her modeling career. Shortly after, her beauty caught the eye of a film producer, and she was hired as a stand-in for Grace Kelly in the movie “The Swan” filmed at the Biltmore in Asheville. After moving to Atlanta, she was hired as a spokesperson with Dick Clark to promote Dr. Pepper. Without a doubt, her looks certainly mirrored her heart.

Peggy met her husband Don (Papa) in 1955. At that time, he was singing with the gospel music trio The Sons of Song, and they met after a performance in Asheville one night. Her beauty, grace, and soft spoken yet cheerful personality captured his heart. One year later they eloped in order to win a $100 bet with her brother and his girlfriend. They bet that they would marry first, and they did. The day after they were married, Don left on a three-month concert tour. Theirs was a marriage that lasted 53 years until Don passed away in 2011.

Peggy’s life with Don was centered around faith and family. Because Don’s job required a lot of travel in the early days, Peggy stayed home to care for their children. Don eventually became an ordained minister and began pastoring a church in Atlanta. Peggy’s compassion, love for Christ and love for others served the congregation well.

In 1972, Peggy, Don and their four children moved to Nashville to continue Don’s career in gospel music, and Peggy continued to juggle the responsibilities of being a full-time mom to Donna, Dyana, Denise and Dee. However, for many years, Peggy spent a few months out of the year working alongside Don at the Gospel Music Association in preparation for GMA Week. She loved seeing old friends and helping to organize that annual event.

As her children began having children, she happily settled into the doting grandmother role. She cared for them when they were sick, allowed them to dip their finger into the sugar jar, created a magical land made of cheeseballs, gave them a quarter each time they made their bed and so much more. The relationship she had with each grandchild was unique, special and unforgettable.

Peggy was the ultimate matriarch, the glue that held the family together. She was extremely proud of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and loved them more than anything in the world. They loved her more and will miss her forever.

Peggy is preceded in death by her husband Donald W Butler, Sr. and her brother, James (Jim) David Rogers.

She is survived by her daughters Donna Butler-Rawson, Dyana Butler, Denise (Mark) Creswell, and her son Donald W. “Dee” (Carolyn) Butler, Jr.; grandchildren Caitlin (Andrew) Bullard, Meagan (David) Kelley, Hannah (Alex) Guth, Caroline (Erik) Sharpnack, Donald W. “Trey” Butler, III, Joshua Butler, and Graham Creswell; great grandchildren Olivia Bullard, Lucas Bullard and Briar Kelley. Peggy loved and adored her big brother Jim and her sister Norma Jean as well as nieces and nephews Joni Rogers, Suzanne Rogers Ritter, David Rogers, Rusty Rogers, Teresa Rogers Waggoner and their entire families.

A Gathering of Family and Friends will be held on Monday, January 10, 2022 from one until three o'clock in the afternoon at Brentwood United Methodist Church, 309 Franklin Road, Brentwood, TN 37027. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her memory to The Gospel Music Trust Fund, Post Office Box 932, Brentwood, TN 37204, www.gospelmusictrustfund.org, Wallburg Baptist Church, 5341 Wallburg Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27107, www.wallburgbaptistchurch.org, or MusiCares Development 3030 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404. https://www.musicares.org/donations

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Brentwood-Roesch-PattonFuneralHome.com for the Butler family.