Willie Drew Peak, Jr.

Willie graduated from the Starke University (High) School in Montgomery, class of 1951. He then attended Huntingdon College and Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University), and served in the U.S. Army for two years.

Willie married Doris Jean Gast on August 24, 1955. Over the next several years, he worked and traveled as a showman for Lee Amusement Company (midway rides), which was owned and operated by Doris Jean’s grandfather. Together, in 1960, Willie and Doris Jean opened Montgomery School Service, a retail business for schools, teachers, and school districts to have a place to purchase pencils, notebook paper, scissors, glue, construction paper, chalkboards, flash cards, and all the supplies that a school and its children and teachers could possibly need. This was the family business for the next 35 years. He and Doris Jean retired, she as an elementary school teacher, on the same day in May 1995.

He campaigned for and was elected to the Montgomery City Council in 1975, serving from 1975 to 1983. From 1977 through 1983, he served as President of the City Council. During his retirement years, he once again dedicated himself to serving the City of Montgomery, this time as assistant to the mayor, working on various projects in the Sanitation, Parks and Recreation, and Transportation Departments. In 2004, he assisted with the opening of Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium.

Willie and Doris Jean enjoyed traveling, by themselves and with family members. Early on, they and their three young daughters, and sometimes others, would pile in the family station wagon for an eventful week-long summer vacation.

As a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Willie served God as an elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and its predecessor denominations, his entire adult life. He was a member of the East Montgomery Exchange Club, a civic organization, for more than 60 years.

All through the years, Willie and Doris Jean welcomed many family members and friends into their home, hosting holiday gatherings, cookouts, birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, committee meetings, and for about any other occasion which called for people to get together and have a good time.

His brother, Robert Christan Peak, died in 1965. His wife of 66 years, Doris Jean Gast Peak, died in 2021. He is survived by his children, Beth Peak Thompson and her husband, Paul Thompson; Jeanne Peak; and Lee Anne Peak Williams and her husband, Keith Williams; grandchildren, Charles Andrew Williams (Maggie Lyn Lumsden), and Rebecca Lee Williams Landry (Kyle); and great-grandson, William Richard Landry.

Visitation will be at Leak Memory Chapel on Friday, May 15 from 5:00-7:00 pm.

A Celebration of Life Service will be at Leak Memory Chapel on Saturday, May 16 at 11:00 am.

Pallbearers--Keith Williams, Andrew Williams, Ray Williams, Jay Williams, Andrew Peak, Brad Dyess, and Cam Hipps

Honorary Pallbearer—Kyle Landry

Contributions in his memory may be made to:

John Knox Presbyterian Church Respite Ministry, 35 Shannon Dr., Greenville, SC 29615 https://www.johnknoxpres.org/respite-ministry

or a recipient of your choosing.