Violet Blackmon Peele

Oklahoma City- Violet (Evelyn) Blackmon Peele was born on December 2, 1925 in Angier, NC to Cardovia Lee Blackmon and Leller Womack Blackmon. She grew up in Four Oaks, NC and Angier, NC. She went to Berry College in Rome, GA in 1943 and then to Elon College in Burlington, NC in 1945 graduating in 1947 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She received a Master in Education degree in 1966 from William & Mary University in Williamsburg, VA.

A graveside service will be held for Violet on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at Sandy Grove Cemetery, 19863 NC 210 Hwy. Angier, NC 27501.

Violet Blackmon married Ellwood Louis Peele in a little country church near Four Oaks, North Carolina on March 26, 1949. They welcomed the birth of their daughter, Ann, on September 13, 1951 in Raleigh, NC. Their son Ellwood, Jr. was born in Baltimore, MD on September 12, 1953.

She studied organ in the 1950’s with Mr. Arthur Howes at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, MD while living in Bel Air. She was the Organist/Choir director at Mt. Zion Methodist Church. In 1975 she participated in an Organ Study and Tour in Zwolle, Holland with Mr. Howes.

In 1962 the family moved to Newport News, VA. Violet served as Choir Director and organ substitute for many years at Noland Memorial UMC in Newport News. She was active as a private piano teacher, judging piano contests for the Peninsula Music Teachers Association and serving as president. She also judged for the Virginia Music Teachers Association, Federation of Music Teachers and the Piano Guild. She and Ellwood were also members of the Peninsula Choral Society.

October 1992 found Ellwood and Violet moving to Oklahoma City to be near their daughter, Ann, and her family. They were members of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church for 8 years and enjoyed singing in the church choir that was directed by Ann. They followed Ann to Covenant Presbyterian Church where Ann went to serve as Director of Music Ministry.

Her greatest joys were her family, working with her choirs and piano students, and in most recent years keeping up with news of her North Carolina siblings and many nieces and nephews through Facebook and the photos and texts they shared.

Violet was preceded in death by her husband, Ellwood, of 62 years. She is survived by daughter, Ann Peele Thomas and her husband, Carl; son, Ellwood Peele, Jr. and his wife, Mary; grandsons, Raymond Thomas and Michael Peele and his wife, Kelly and granddaughter Piper, born one day before Violet’s 95th birthday. She is also survived by her brothers Jerry Blackmon and Cardovia Blackmon and sister, Mary Johnson, and many nieces and nephews.