Peggy Joyce Faison

Peggy Joyce Faison fought her way Home to Heaven on July 12, 2025, at 4:10 PM in Jacksonville, Florida, while holding the hand of a loved one and with the voice of her beloved sister, Geraldine, in her ear. Peggy was born July 19, 1942, in Moultrie, Georgia to Bernard and Gladys Faison. Known as Mama’s baby, she was well-loved by her parents and her older siblings, who were also her personal heroes. Peggy’s great loves were her family, Jesus, Georgia Bulldogs, dancing, singing, swimming and taking beach trips with her friends. In Heaven, she will be reunited with her parents Bernard and Gladys Faison, her great-niece Daphne Sanders, and many aunts, uncles and cousins. She is survived by her sister Geraldine Sanders; her brother Eugene “Buddy” (Rose) Faison; nephew Carl (Debra) Sanders and their sons Grant and Blake; nephew Robby (Nancy Ward) Sanders and his children Michael Sanders, Ashley (Conor) MacGabhann and their daughter Alice; nephew Eric (Sarah) Faison and their children Riley, Landon, Nathan and Delaney; and her niece Kimberly (Randy) Hunt, and their children Cole and Tristan.

In her childhood, Peggy lived and worked on her Daddy’s farm, picking cotton and tobacco with her older siblings, and basically following them wherever they went. Her favorite memories were of riding her bicycle, spending time with her cousins, aunts and uncles, and eating banana sandwiches for lunch in the fields with her Mama, Daddy, Buddy and Geraldine. She remembered giving her heart to Jesus at the altar of a big tent revival at the age of 12 with her cousin. She was known for her sweet singing voice and even sang on the radio as part of a quartet.

After her 1960 high school graduation at Central High School of Thomas County, she took her first job as a bookkeeper at Darwood Manufacturing Company in Pelham, Georgia and worked there for 20 years. She went on to serve as bookkeeper for South Georgia Neurological Institute, Jax Electric Company, and Core Dynamics, enjoying her well-earned reputation as a hard worker and excellent bookkeeper until her retirement in 1996.

Peggy and her many friends rarely missed an American Legion dance or an opportunity to hang out at the beach. She was a fiercely independent woman who lived life exactly on her own terms, preferring her own company, or that of her sister, throughout her retirement years. When asked about her choice to remain single, Peggy would often say that she’d rather be on her own instead of having a man in her space all the time! But she dearly loved spending time with her siblings and their children, and her personal photos are filled with memories of playing games, climbing, listening to records and generally being silly with her niece and nephews. She shared her love of popular music with her oldest nephew, although there was never a better singer than Elvis, according to Peggy. She loved the old hymns, and often sang Amazing Grace and The Old Rugged Cross with her family and her caregivers.

Peggy is a testament to the fact that people have an endless capacity to change and grow, as at the age of 81, she learned how to build relationships and love people deeply because of the beautiful, patient caregivers at Brookdale Mandarin and Crown Point. Peggy’s family is forever grateful for the loving care provided by Brookdale, Abode Care Partners and Vitas Hospice nurses, with special thanks to Courtney, KeKe, Amy and Marco for teaching her to love again; Beverly, Kim, Marcie, Debbie, Velaine, Renarda, Jennifer and Patricia for singing and laughing with her every day; and to the absolute angels who tended Peggy every moment of the last days of her journey Home; LeeAnn, Victoria and Barb.

Peggy’s life will be celebrated in a private family gathering on what would have been her 83rd birthday.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating your gift to her end-of-life caregivers in honor of Peggy’s loving gratitude. Checks can be sent to: Brookdale Crown Point Employee Holiday Fund, Attn: Kimberly Herbert, 10050 Old St Augustine Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32257.