Peggy Ann Perkins

Peggy Ann Perkins passed away early Sunday morning, March 15, 2026. The lung disease she dealt with for years finally took her life. She was born on November 2, 1951, and recently celebrated her seventy-fourth birthday.

Peggy believed God put her on earth to save as many of His animals as she could. For her, each dog and cat sent her way was a gift and a blessing from Him. She did her best. She’s been called a “champion of the four-legged and furry” for all her exploits in rescuing animals. You could find her on interstate highways, crawling underneath abandoned and decaying houses, on streets and roads, wherever she and her husband, Randy, lived. As an activist for the rights of animals, Peggy worked hard asking, often pushing, local officials to do right by strays. Her loyalty to this cause never wavered.

She graduated from Georgia Southern College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Studies, and she later received a Masters degree in History from Valdosta State College. Peggy taught history and government with the school system in Moultrie, GA for a few years until General Telephone and Electric hired her to manage their Department of Human Resources. She went on to fill similar positions in several other companies as well. As a manager and a leader, Peggy found herself, time and time again, the only female “sitting at the table” with an all male group. She earned employee respect and admiration due to her work ethic, fairness, intelligence, organizational abilities, as well as her sense of humor and quick wit.

Peggy is survived by two dogs and five cats; a brother, Dana Perkins; nephews: Lewis (Angie) Perkins, Clint (Brittany) Perkins, Heath (Aly) Perkins, and Dave (Stacie) Perkins; and three grand-nieces and six grand-nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Randy Poole; parents, Gilbert and Geneva Perkins; and brother, David Perkins.

Survivors also include long-time college friends: Teri Davies, Ben Pate, Pat Lindsey, Mike Mattox, Tom Nolan, and Brad Hoyt. They met in 1969 at Georgia Southern and formed a lifelong bond of friendship. Sue Huffstutler and Laurie Pate joined that friendship with their marriages to Mike and Ben.

A Celebration of Peggy's life will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 4, 2026 in the chapel of Smith Funeral Home with Pastor Eric Buffington officiating. Visitation will be at the funeral home from noon until service time. In lieu of flowers, please donate to an animal rescue group or take in a stray to honor Peggy’s memory.