Margaret (Peggy) Ann Holsclaw Welch

Margaret Anne (Peggy) Holsclaw Welch left her family on 4 April 2015. Surviving are her son Michael Shawn Welch and daughter-in-law Jennifer Erickson Welch, of Union, Kentucky; her daughter Laura Shannon Welch Miller, and son-in-law Alex Miller, of New Market, Tennessee; her niece and nephew Lisa Smith, of Springfield, TN and Graham Watts, of Clarksville, TN; grandchildren Bran Miller and Eli Miller, both of Asheville, North Carolina, Wyn Miller, of Chattanooga, TN, and Ian Miller and his son Landon Ivan Louis Miller, both of New Market, TN ; her cousin, Barbara Louks, of Little Rock, Arkansas; and as well, many nieces and nephews, great grand, and amazing! Peggy was married for over 60 years to Louis Burton Welch, of Burningtown, North Carolina. Into his strong arms she placed her life and trust; her safety, welfare, and happiness were always paramount for him. If ever two people "completed" each other, these two lovers did so. As he lay dying, Peggy realized she would have to draw all her strength as a former Thespian to be strong to support him, and when he whispered to her, "Honey, I just can't lift you anymore," she bravely replied, "Oh, honey, you have lifted me all my life!" After his death, Peggy felt a physical loss and spent many of her remaining days sitting in the sun room they built together and shared for so many years, watching birds visit their feeders and "Pop's" wildflowers bloom in the woods, and so it's comforting to know that here in this same roomsurrounded by bright Easter flowers is where she finally was able to "Let go, and let God" to find her wonderful, love-filled life's end. Peggy loved people and spent her life engaged and active most of her years, in church and community work. She was gracious and high-spirited and blessed to claim so many beautiful friends who supported her and loved her -- I would name you all out loud, but you know who you are! Many of these sweet folks served with her in the Intercessory Prayer Ministry, an effort she helped begin and about which she felt quite passionately. She taught high school English in Jefferson County, served for many years as a city librarian, and played "Mother Goose" for countless little folks, working hard to instill in her children and grandchildren a love of reading and learning that has been key in their development as adults. Peggy's most powerful legacy is the compassion for others she taught us was the first step in our evolution to become true human beings. Even as children, we knew to find the child who stood alone in the corner and approach him or her with a friendly, "I'm Shannon! What's your name?" Frequent mantras in our home were that money is not important as long as you have love, that we are all equally valuable, regardless of our ethnicity or language, and that as humans we are most especially here to be in relation with others. I know she would have rejoiced in how her last weeks of suffering brought together so many of us who loved her: through her difficult journey, some of us have become closer than we ever would have been! Now, in this vernal equinox season, we recognize the powerful balance in our world, from dark to light, from sleep to waking, and from endings to new beginnings. Mama chose a time to leave us when all around us new green life was coming into being and we know the circle continues. May all of you be filled with gratitude that you are a part of this circle, and appreciate, respect, and honor the life-affirming system working all around us. The family has chosen to forgo formal funeral services and will bury Peggy in a small family meeting next to the love of her life, Louis. We thank all of our friends and family for the support and love you gave to Mama; we are spread out and time-constrained, so want to focus the little time we can be all together on special moments with out-of town family. In lieu of visits, flowers, or desserts, the family has requested that you instead contribute to the First Baptist Church Benevolence Committee (865 475 3826) or to the local Jefferson Rural Clinic (865 471 5525) as we were already blessed with the presence of this woman in our lives and we need nothing more special!