Peggy Jane Sood

November 9, 1937 – May 9, 2025

Peggy Jane Sood, age 87, of Knoxville, Tennessee passed away peacefully at Fort Sanders Medical Center on Friday, May 9th due to heart failure. Praying for her and touching her by her side were her two sons, three grandchildren, Niece Dr. Pamela Sud and friend Margo Teague.

Peggy had a lifelong love of music and singing, particularly opera. She had a natural talent and began singing at a young age. In college she studied music and voice. She perfected her singing by participating in voice lessons most of her adult life into her early 80’s. She was often asked by friends and family to sing at weddings, funerals and other church events gratis. She sang in several charity concerts and recitals throughout her life.

In 1958, Peggy married Ravinder K. Sood, P.E., a Tennessee Valley Authority Mechanical Engineer. They began their life in the Fort Sanders neighborhood where Ravi could walk to work at TVA and attend evening classes at UT as he pursued his master’s in mechanical engineering. Peggy convinced the owner of the apartment building in which they were living to allow her to manage the building and so began Peggy’s real estate career. In 1960, Peggy and Ravi purchased their first house in Fort Sanders in which they lived on one floor and converted the other floor into student apartments. Peggy and Ravi purchased other houses in Fort Sanders throughout the 1960’s and converted them into apartment buildings. Peggy managed the properties from the family home in the Fort Sanders neighborhood.

In the 1970’s Peggy and Ravi decided to tear down some of their apartment houses and build a new four-story student apartment building. Peggy obtained her general contractors license from the State of Tennessee for this endeavor. They built two new apartment buildings in the Fort Sanders area, and they were named Dailey House after a great aunt of Peggy’s.

Peggy and Ravi went on to develop other properties in the Knoxville area including a manufactured housing community in the Karns area (now named Oak Ridge Estates) and Vineyard Crest single family housing subdivision.

Peggy enjoyed beauty treatments – hair, makeup, and nails – but so do many women. So, in 1979 she and a partner opened the Sculptress on Kingston Pike on Bearden Hill in Knoxville. Initially the salon only offered nail treatments (nail only salons were not common then) but then expanded into a full-service beauty salon and spa offering hair, makeup, wraps, etc. also. She and a partner operated the business into the late 80’s when they sold the business. At the time of the sale, it was one of the largest beauty salon and spas in Knoxville.

Peggy also enjoyed wearing fur coats and jewelry. To support this extravagant hobby, she became a dealer of furs and jewelry in the Knoxville area in the early 1970s. She imported furs from Greece and would obtain jewelry on consignment from a wholesale jeweler in New York city. The fur business was named Lady Magdalene furs after her Mother. She did not have a storefront, as she would just wear the furs and jewelry to social events and when she received a compliment on the fur coat or jewelry, she would offer the person the opportunity to purchase the item. She was an influencer before the internet existed.

Peggy belonged to several social charitable organizations. She joined the Ossoli Circle in 1970 where she served as First Vice President from 2001-2002 and as President from 2002 - 2003. Through her leadership at the Ossoli Circle she was awarded the status of Outstanding Clubwoman by the Grand Federation of Women’s Clubs of Tennessee (GFWC) for 2005 – 2006. She received The Tribute of Honor from the GFWC in 2009.

Peggy was a supporter of the Knoxville Opera Company since its inception in the late 1970s. She was a board member for six years and she sponsored several operas. She was inducted into the Knoxville Opera Hall of Fame in 2017 for her extraordinary and exemplary support.

Peggy served on the Scholarship Committee of the Episcopal School of Knoxville where her grandchildren attended elementary and middle school. The Scholarship Committee raised funds to provide financial aid for students to attend the school. After her husband, Ravi, passed away in 2008, she contributed funds to establish the Ravinder Sood Science Lab in the middle school.

Peggy was a coloratura soprano. The late Peggy Howard of Knoxville was her vocal coach for many years. She sang with several organizations over her years in Knoxville including the Knoxville Opera Company Chorus, The Tuesday Morning Musical Club, and the Knoxville Women’s Chorus.

Peggy sang arias in concert for charity for several organizations including the Knoxville Symphony League’s Elegant Dining Series, Knoxville Symphony’s Taste of Knoxville, University of Tennessee Faculty Women’s Club, Ossoli Circle and the Edisto Beach South Carolina Community Women’s Guild Christmas Festival with the Charleston Symphony.

Peggy was a tennis player into her 50s as a member of the Cedar Bluff Racquet Club. She also travelled extensively throughout the continental U.S, Canada and Alaska with her husband, Ravi, in their motor home. Peggy was fond of driving large vehicles. She used to drive a dump truck to pick up sand and gravel for the construction operations, so driving their motor home was second nature.

Peggy is preceded in death by her husband, Ravinder Kumar Sood, and all her siblings. She leaves behind:

Her oldest son Maharaj (Raj) Sood and his wife, Margaret Sood. Their oldest daughter Raakhi Sood, youngest daughter, Uma Sood, and son Ravinder S. Sood, all of Knoxville.

Her youngest son Balraj (Mano) Sood and his son Dustin Sood, both of Knoxville.

Brother-in-Law Mohinder Sud of Knoxville. Sister-in-law Geeta Sud of Florence, S.C.

Many nephews and nieces.

Many friends including Gordon and Sheila Murjani of Knoxville and Dr. Robert Hightower of Oak Ridge, TN.

The family will receive friends Sunday, May 18th from 12 to 2 pm at Berry Highland West Funeral Home with a funeral service following at 2 pm. Peggy’s funeral service will be a celebration of music and song. Live music and singing will be performed during the visitation period and the funeral service.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to the charity of your choice.