Peggy Fish Dickerson

Peggy was born in Willow Springs, Wake County, and grew up on a farm managed by her mother, Mary Rowland Fish. She lived her entire life in North Carolina, either in Wake County or Carteret County at her beloved Atlantic Beach home.

Peggy’s mother instilled in her the importance of hard work, independence, and honesty. Peggy and her seven older siblings worked on the farm, and Peggy’s daily chore was milking the family cow.

After high school, Peggy attended Hardbarger Business College of Raleigh. In her first job Peggy worked as an assistant to James Wesley “Willie” York. Peggy recalled viewing partially developed property with Mr. York. Mr. York would later turn that property into Cameron Village shopping center and apartments (now known as the Village District).

Peggy met and married George Francis Chambers, with whom she had her five children. When the children were young, Peggy was a stay-at-home mother. She began working as a substitute teacher in Wake County Schools as her youngest was starting school.

Once all her children were in school, Peggy entered the workforce full-time—first as a secretary at Wendell Elementary and then at Vaiden Whitley High School (currently known as East Wake High School).

When Vaiden Whitley’s principal became the executive director of the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE), he asked Peggy to join him, and she did. She worked at NCAE until the association’s subsequent executive director asked her to join him on a new endeavor—the Public School Forum of North Carolina. During the years Peggy worked there, the Forum completed a 1990s local school finance study of North Carolina schools. That study led to the decades-long legal action known as Leandros. Peggy worked at the Public School Forum until her retirement in 1994.

After her retirement, Peggy spent her summers at her home at Atlantic Beach. Peggy would return to Raleigh to host annual Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings for her children.

Peggy loved Atlantic Beach, and she lived there independently for 25 plus years. She also loved the many people she met there. Peggy became fast friends with a group of women who continued to check on her even after she moved back to Raleigh.

Peggy had a colorful and entertaining personality, enjoyed by colleagues, family, friends, and people at the bank. A few of Peggy’s sayings and gesturing that prompt fond memories for her children include – “go outside, and you’ll feel better,” hand-me-downs that “you’ll grow into,” “I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck,” and Peggy snapping her fingers while talking on the phone. Other Peggy favorites remembered by her children are – the hot dog special at Tastee Freez, spicy food, the red Rambler, Clorox, Krispy Kreme, and loud colors.

Peggy always invited friends and family, including her nieces and nephews, to stay with her at the beach. Her hobbies and interests at her beach home included gardening, sitting in the sun, solitaire, crossword puzzles, reading, traveling to other warm places, house projects (she could fix most anything), walking on the beach, and attending the Leon Mann Senior Center (Senior Center) in Morehead City.

Peggy went to the Senior Center every weekday morning for more than 20 years, sometimes leading the exercise class. Peggy only stopped going to the Senior Center in 2020 when it had to temporarily close its doors due to the pandemic.

Peggy was a member of the following civic organizations: TROSA (board member), Carteret County Wildwood ECA, Newcomers Women’s Club of Carteret County, and Carteret County AARP. Peggy was also a dedicated member of St. Egberts Catholic Church in Morehead City - she attended the 5:00 pm service every Saturday.

Peggy’s health started to decline during the pandemic, and she moved back to Raleigh in early 2021. She lived with family for a few months until she was well enough to live independently once again. She moved into a retirement community in Raleigh, where she was socially active and formed friendships with many of the residents. She was physically closer to many of her children and enjoyed their regular visits.

In October 2023, Peggy moved to an assisted living community, where she still experienced some cheerful times. She enjoyed spending time with staff and other residents, as well as visitors and family.

Peggy is predeceased by two former husbands, her parents and her seven siblings. She is survived by her five children, Mike (Tina), Al, Dot (Jerry), Tony (Jenny), and Kelly (Michael), multiple grandchildren, one great granddaughter, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Peggy asked that she be donated to science after her passing. Her family honored that request by donating her body to Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Peggy also asked that a memorial service be held at the beach—a fitting request for a woman who loved the beach. A service to honor Peggy’s life will be held on Saturday, July 13, at 11:00 am, at St. Egberts Catholic Church in Morehead City.