Peggy Blackwelder

Peggy Blackwelder, 91 of Horizon Bay Assisted Living of Concord, passed away Tuesday, January 28, 2014 following several years of declining health. Mrs. Blackwelder was born July 21, 1922 on John White Road in the Flowe's Store community of Cabarrus County. Peggy was the third daughter and fifth child of the late Wilson Eugene White and Hurlie Homa Hartsell White. Following graduation from Bethel High School in 1939, she worked in the sheet department of Cannon Mills in Kannapolis, NC for about four years. Cannon Mills lost a good employee when she met and married H.G. Blackwelder, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Blackwelder set up house in the Wil-Mar Park section of Concord. She lived there for 65 years raising six children and then becoming a "girl Friday" for H.G. in his business. As soon as she married and moved to Concord, she joined McGill Baptist Church and was very active in many areas of the church until about seven years ago. In retirement Peggy loved to visit. She would visit six or eight people each week giving them a homemade pie, cake, or food of some kind, often a banana pudding. When asked to summarize her life in six words she replied "Raising six children, happiest thirty years." Peggy was preceded in death by her husband, H.G. Blackwelder, Jr., a son, Robin Eugene Blackwelder, two sisters, and two brothers. Peggy is survived by two sons and three daughters; sons, H. Grady Blackwelder and wife Glenn of Concord, and Barry L. Blackwelder and wife Linda of Normandy, TN.; daughters, Genie B. Theimer and husband Jerry of Denver, Martha B. Price and husband Bill of Waxhaw, and Leslie B. Gheesling and husband Ed of Concord; three grandsons, Carson M. Blackwelder and wife Ashley of Boiling Springs, SC, Michael H. Gheesling and wife Brittany of Kannapolis, and Daniel E. Gheesling of Concord; granddaughter, Wilson B. Ruberti and husband R.J. of Raleigh; sister-in-law, Ruby S. Blackwelder; one great-granddaughter, Carter Kate Blackwelder; eight nieces; six nephews; and a host of friends. The family would like to thank the caregivers and staff of Horizon Bay Assisted Living of Concord for their wonderful care and attention to Peggy. The family also thanks Dr. Carmella Gismondi-Eagan, Dr. Douglas G. Kelling, Jr., and nurse Angie Lear for the excellent care and help they provided. The family will receive friends on Saturday, February 8, 2014 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, Concord. A service to celebrate Peggy's life will follow at 2:00 pm officiated by Dr. Steve Ayers. The family asks that memorials may be made to Bethel United Methodist Church, 12700 Idlebrook Road, Midland, NC 28107, or McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, Concord, NC 28027. Hartsell Funeral Home of Concord is serving the Blackwelder family.