By Staff
Margaret Ann (Peggy) Griffin, 75, of 112 South Broad Street, Columbia, died Saturday night after a long illness. 
She was born on October 23, 1935 as the first child of Margaret May Woodley and Frank Griffin. Peggy first took piano lessons from her dear aunt “Miss Ida” Spruill who taught many in Tyrrell County to read music and play the piano. 
Peggy graduated from East Carolina University with a B.S. degree in voice and piano, and taught in Winterville, NC, while she got her Masters Degree in Public School Music. She taught music and chorus for several years in Douglas Arizona and Bel Air Maryland before returning home to teach in the first full year of school integration.
Peggy felt that her friendship and respect with the community at large helped to smooth the transition. Her proudest accomplishments were associated with her quest to make it “cool to be in chorus.” Although her teaching methods would probably not be acceptable today; she taught many students the joy of singing and produced high school choral groups that were the equal of any in the region regardless of school size. 
After retiring from the school system, Peggy was proud to serve as the reporter for The Coastland Times and The Scuppernong Reminder. She was a community activist and served on many boards and committees such as Columbia Town Board of Aldermen, Tyrrell County board of Commissioners, Pocosin Arts, Coastal Resources Commission, Beaufort County Community College, Southern Albemarle Commission, and was president of the Columbia Rotary Club for a year. 
Funeral services would be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. 
She is survived by her brother Frank Michael Griffin and wife Suzanne and their children. 
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by twin brothers John and Henry Griffin; her step father and long time boating buddy Willie A. Basnight. 
The family would like to thank the many care givers who cared for Peggy in her home this past year. 
In lieu of flowers; memorial donations can be made in her memory to the Tyrrell County Public Library or St. Andrews Episcopal Church, where she was an organist for many years, P.O Box 615 Columbia, NC 27925.
The family will receive friends at Bryan Funeral Service, Columbia on Tuesday evening, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Arrangements are by Bryan Funeral Service, Columbia, where online sympathy messages may be directed to www.bryanfs.com.
Paid Obituary