Amanda "Peggy" V. Logan

Amanda Virginia Logan, affectionately known as Peggy, was our beloved Mom and Wife. She passed peacefully into eternal life on July 1, 2025, in the presence of her daughter, Stephanie Ross, and Rabbi Josh immediately following his prayer. Amanda was born on May 22, 1928, in Sharpsburg, Maryland, at her grandparent’s home. She was the only child born to the late Virginia Brown Cook and Edison Roosevelt Cook. Peggy began her walk with our Lord at an early age and was raised in a devoutly Christian home, and attended church every Sunday. She also served on many church committees and ministries.

A short time after Peggy's birth, she and her parents moved to Hagerstown, Maryland, where she lived until age 24. Mom continues to have many dear friends and relatives in Hagerstown and nearby in Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Shepherdstown, West Virginia. She frequently played with her beloved, and cousin Lawrence Freeman (recently deceased), and her favorite “Uncle Skee” (Thomas Cook’s second cousin), who later married Bessie, also known as Peggy’s little sister. They remained best friends.

Peggy attended Sunday School at Asbury United Methodist Church in Hagerstown. She loved church music, especially the sounds of the pipe organ, which led her to pursue piano lessons at age seven. Amanda eventually served as a church pianist for ten years. As a youngster, she often dreamed of becoming a concert pianist. Several years ago, she attended a concert of her favorite pianist, Lang Lang, at the Kennedy Center. While attending North Street High School in Hagerstown, she enjoyed performing in many drama and music productions. And, in 1946, she graduated as Valedictorian of her class. Peggy was also a Brownie and a Girl Scout at the church when she realized that she truly enjoyed helping young people reach their goals and achieve their dreams.

Peggy’s father, Edison, worked at several hotels in Hagerstown in many positions, such as a bellhop. He never lived to see his grandchildren, Stephanie, Clarence, and Edison. Grandma Naomi Cook remarried almost 20 years later to Homer Costley (Papa), a long-time employee of the National Geographic Society. After Peggy's father, Edison, passed away, she and her mom moved to Washington, DC. Her mother worked as a housekeeper for a prominent caucasian brain surgeon, Dr. Brady, and his family. Her mother often arrived from her boss's winter home in Bethesda, Maryland, late in the evening after a long bus ride carrying large bags of food and nicely used clothing for her daughter and the church community. Peggy’s exposure to the upper-class lifestyle reminded her of the movie The Help, which depicted the lives of housekeepers during these times.

Peggy began her higher education at Maryland State Teachers College, now Bowie State University, where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. Her first teaching position was at her alma mater North Street High School. Peggy continued her formal education at Catholic University of America, George Washington University, and University of Maryland, where she received credits in Inter-cultural Relations, Speech and Drama, and Student Teaching. Living in Washington, DC, she journeyed to varied museums and monuments and increased her knowledge exponentially. Early in the 1950s, her membership in an exclusive women's club called Modern Mrs inspired her life’s mission. During that time, Modern Mrs was the first African American women's group to host social affairs in downtown Washington, DC. The group supported many community efforts in the DC Metropolitan area, as Peggy began to support and donate to many charities.

Clarence Leroy Ross, a talented young Civil Engineer, came into Amanda’s life during a visit to Asbury United Methodist Church in Washington, DC. Dad was a wonderful father and a cherished husband to Peggy. They were introduced by one of her best friends, Aunt Gwen Nero. Afterwards, they welcomed their first and only daughter, retired Library Media Specialist, Stephanie Renee Ross. Then, two years later, they gave birth to their son, attorney and musician, Clarence Leroy Ross, Jr. Another two years later, the youngest member of the family, Senior Accountant Edison Nelson Ross (married to Alexis Broadhurst Ross), made his debut. She always treasured the hospitality at Edison and Alexis’s house. Peggy and Alexis adored each other. Once her daughter-in-law, Alexis hosted a very special surprise birthday party for Peggy that is still being talked about today.

Peggy remarried on April 4, 1970, to Obie Lorenza Logan (deceased) under the tutelage of Reverend Fowler, and he brought four children together to the family: Neila, Dwayne, Langston, and Mary. Peggy cherished them dearly. In 1970, Peggy and her husband, along with Stephanie, Clarence, and Edison, moved into their new home in Silver Spring, Maryland, where they joined Colesville United Methodist Church. Obie was a dependable husband and faithful companion to Mom for over 50 years, and a wonderful Step-Dad and Dad.

Peggy worked as an enthusiastic, celebrated, and creative third grade public school teacher in Prince George’s County Public School. Elementary students benefited from her teaching about Native American History and Culture, Geography, The Arts, Astronomy, Greek Mythology, and Science. She recalled many field trips with her students to art galleries and the Smithsonian Museums on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Sometimes, she invited her third graders to her home for weekend sleepovers and treated all of them to tropical virgin homemade daiquiris, piña coladas, and limeade garnished with cherries, orange slices, pineapples, and cantaloupes. Her drinks were always served in exotic, fancy glasses topped with a little umbrella and straw. Two of her students became like family. She even named her family's French Poodle after her Japanese American student, Mikeo.

Every Christmas, Peggy enjoyed opening gifts from all thirty of her students and wrote special thank you notes to each student for their gift. One of her most memorable gifts was a tube of used lipstick from a little girl who did not have the money to spend on a gift. One of her many successful and talented students was former Executive of Prince George's County, Wayne Curry. Peggy recalled what a great child he was and the morning his father proudly entered her class, displaying another one of Wayne’s awesome science projects as if it were his own. Many years later, Peggy was honored to be invited by Wayne to give a brief speech at one of his recognition dinners. After 35 years of teaching, Peggy retired from teaching at age 62.

Peggy co-founded the George Washington University Children's Repertory Guild, where she designed costumes and performed plays at the Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC. One of her favorite plays to perform was Beauty and the Beast, and it was highlighted in The Washington Post Newspaper. (see photo and article). Peggy enjoyed theatrical productions at the Olney Theatre in Olney, Maryland, and Toby's dinner theater in Columbia, Maryland, at least once or twice a year. A few years ago, Peggy attended a production of The Beauty and the Beast at Toby's Dinner Theater with family members, Stephanie, Maularie, and Laurence. To much of her delight, the waiter was The Candelabra in the play. Peggy, Sharon Cook, and her two children, Essence and Thomas III, thoroughly enjoyed front row seats at The Nutcracker, where they were surprisingly snowed on. A lover of classical movies, Peggy enjoyed Gone With The Wind (Civil War), Casablanca, Jezebel, Pinky, and Imitation of Life. Peggy loved theatre.

Peggy enjoyed designing Halloween costumes for her children. Clarence won first place in the Prince George's Plaza Halloween contest and a trip to New York City for his space monster costume. She bribed Clarence to wear a huge aluminum foil helmet weighing half a pound with large red and black felt circles around the eyes. She even designed his three-inch-long fingernails and toes, which were made of aluminum foil too. Peggy made the whole family laugh when she demonstrated for Clarence how to walk and hold his fingers for the judges. She also made him a long tail that dragged on the ground. Poor Clarence. The costume she designed for Edison was even creepier, resembling a brown pillowcase that covered his entire body. Obie's granddaughter, Dr. Candice Logan, was also a recipient of Peggy’s creative and outrageous costume designs. Peggy taught Candice how to roar like a lion when she wore her costume during a kindergarten recital.

Peggy was an avid reader. In addition to American Civil War stories, she also treasured biographies and autobiographies about people who made significant contributions to society, such as Ruby Bridges, who wrote an autobiography, “Through My Eyes,” about the complexity of racial injustice in November 1960s America. Another favorite autobiography of hers was “I Am Malala” by Malala Yousafzai, a young Pakistani activist for female education around the world and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. Peggy frequently shared Malala’s famous vision of “One Child, One Teacher, One Book, One Pen can change the world.” Mom would share stories about these influential authors with children to inspire them. Peggy’s love of these books motivated children to tell these stories.

Mom also loved to listen to children read. She was once so impressed with a 7-year-old, Samuel, as he dramatically read excerpts from the book, The Lion King, in English and French. Once, when Peggy wasn't feeling well, several of her play grandchildren – Sarah, Daniel, and Jayden – even sat around her bedside taking turns reading children’s biography books to her, which made Grandma Peggy feel so much better.

In her spare time, Peggy, the entrepreneur, also enjoyed working as a World Book Encyclopedia Consultant. In this position, she fostered a deep appreciation for people from all walks of life and provided them job opportunities working with her. Peggy also sold educational products that complemented the county school curriculum. She developed lifelong friendships with several team members: Dr. Joe Crawford and his wife, Carrie, Margaret and Alvin Cottman, Rose Cherry, Gordon Breighner, and Peggy Austin. In fact, they practically lived in our house, diligently planning with Peggy how to sell and give these treasured books to the African American community.

Peggy was a true Marylander! She liked fishing with Obie in Southern Maryland and in Ocean City. Peggy loved raw oysters on the half shell, lobsters, shrimp, and crab feasts with family and friends. She also enjoyed savoring Obie’s fried trout with his potato salad and her daughter’s stuffed, grilled Snapper. Mom enjoyed cooking, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for her family. She enjoyed key lime pie and was crazy about Laurence, Kiomoni, and Peaches' homemade cake. She honestly felt that life would not be the same without Aunt Bessie's home cooking: chitterlings, gourmet steamed mussels, pig feet, spaghetti, and unforgettable crab cakes. Moreover, she loves Lucy’s tacos. Every month, Peggy would also look forward to one little box of Franco Mints sent from Chicago by MaryAnn Evans.

Peggy was known as a fashion aficionado. Many years ago, her niece Leah Cook hosted a spectacular fashion show at Bus Boys and Poets. During the runway finale, Peggy was pleasantly surprised to watch Leah strut down the runway sporting Peggy’s unforgettable ivory-colored chiffon frock and 1960s cocktail dress, which showcased malibu feathers flowing around the hemline. The audience went crazy, clapping and awing about her gorgeous outfit.

Peggy and Obie also traveled extensively across the USA in their Avion RV. They visited friends and relatives who frequented the RV venue in Florida. Clarence and Edison's friends, Victor and his wife, Elvira, welcomed them into their home in Melbourne, Florida. Peggy enjoyed standing on their porch watching the space shuttle take off. Peggy witnessed first-hand three separate space launches! Peggy with Obie also experienced very exciting trips abroad. Among her most memorable countries were Spain, Greece, Israel, Jerusalem, Nazareth, Mexico, and Morocco.

Mom's life began the year after Hoover’s presidency and includes the momentous inauguration of the first African-American U.S. president, the Honorable Barack Hussein Obama, with his very delightful and articulate family. She bore witness to the Brown v. Board of Education court case, the Civil Rights Movement, and mourned the passing of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and, more recently, Representative John Lewis. She also admired the extraordinary campaign of former Vice President Kamala Harris. Her lifetime spanned over nine decades, and she was a breast cancer survivor. She was also privileged to experience the opening of the Smithsonian’s new National Museum of African American History and Culture. She endured a life filled with segregation and discrimination, but she never let that define her.

She has lived long enough to welcome a new generation of youth who are caring and sophisticated activists in their communities. Thanks to Peggy’s legacy, today’s youth represent much of what she worked to achieve in her professional and personal life. To walk through Peggy’s journey, you would experience adventure, friendship, and service to humanity. We love you, Peggy! Thank you for showing us by example how to live a fulfilling life, and be honest, caring, helpful, and most importantly, always trusting in God.