Friday, January 17, 2014 Twelve O'clock Noon Trinity A.M.E. Zion Church 631 East Florida Street, Greensboro, North Carolina

Obituary

Peggy Jo Carman Branch, the only child of Virgil Carman and Warlene Simmons Carman was born in Louisville, KY on January 27, 1938. Peggy went to be with the Lord on January 9, 2014. She was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Carmen Michelle Branch, and her husband John H. Branch, Jr.

Known by many as 'Peggy Jo', she was a dedicated servant of the Lord. She was a faithful servant of Trinity A.M.E. Zion Church and of her community. She was also the consummate educator - teaching and counseling all of her children, those whom she loved, and children of all ages until The Lord called her home.

Peggy received her thirst for knowledge and her love for education from her grandmother, the late Eva Carman of Irvington, KY; and, she continued to embrace education and the joy of learning throughout her entire life. Always the avid reader, wherever Peggy was, a book was close by her side.

After receiving the seed of knowledge from her beloved 'Mama Eva', Peggy Jo went on to excel as a model student. She was a graduate of Central High School in Louisville, KY. From there, she earned a BA degree from the University of Louisville. She then proceeded to earn a MA degree in Urban Education from Indiana University (Bloomington, IN). Her thirst for education continued in her pursuit of numerous post-graduate studies, including those where she earned certifications in Education Administration.

During her lifetime, she directly or indirectly educated thousands! As she walked in God, she had a great affinity to the health and welfare of children. Throughout her life, her major goal was to see all children receiving a quality education. As an active participant in the Civil Rights movement, Peggy knew that a sound education was essential in order to succeed in this society.

She started her legacy as an educator in the Louisville/Jefferson County Public Schools System (Louisville, KY) from the late 1950's to the mid-1970's. After accepting a position as Assistant Professor of Education at the NC A&T State University in 1976, Peggy moved her family to Greensboro, NC. In 1978, Peggy left NC A&T to become an elementary school administrator in the Guilford County Public Schools System. There, she excelled in her responsibilty to oversee the education of countless numbers of children over the next 23 years.

Throughout her life, Peggy's commitment to God and her commitment to service through education were evident in her professional and community affiliations, including but not limited to the following:

Co-Director, Career Opportunities Program, University of Louisville; (Trained prospective teachers for teaching in inner-city schools); Board of Directors, Black Child Development Institute of Greensboro; Education Committee, NAACP; National Association of Elementary School Principals; Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development; Phi Delta Kappa; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; Trinity AME Zion Church; Former Director, Children's Choir; Member, Sanctuary Choir; Parent Body Missionary Society II; Cultural Arts Society.

As her commitment to service through education was great, Peggy's commitment to be a faithful servant of The Lord and to be a dedicated mother was far greater. She loved her church and her family with all of her heart. She served them both well. She filled the hearts of all of her children - at home and at Church - with the divine harmonies of music, the wonderful joy of laughter, and the love of God. At her beloved Trinity AME Zion, the focus was Gospel Music. Her heart was pleased in seeing her church children making joyful noises unto The Lord. At home, in addition to the Gospel, she introduced her children to the joys of Classical music, Jazz, the Blues, and Soul. She enriched the lives of many by playing the piano and singing in church and at home. She is now playing on a magnificent, perfectly tuned, grand piano in the Father's Heavenly Kingdom.

Peggy Jo Carman Branch was extremely talented and tremendously blessed. To her immediate family, she was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She loved them all dearly and was proud of them all. She saw all of them as her babies and she shared a special, unique bond with each of them. Her legacy of love and service shall continue to prosper as each of them journeys through life!

Peggy Jo is survived by three loving sons, Malik Khalid Branch-Bey (Michael Lawrence Branch, Sr.) (High Point, NC), Stephen Douglas Branch (Greenbelt, MD), Mark Andrew Branch (Woodmore, MD); three grandsons, Michael Lawrence Branch, Jr. (Greensboro, NC), Jeremy Stephen Butler (Charlotte, NC), Johnathan Stephen Branch (Manassass, VA); two granddaughters, Kirsten Michelle Branch (Manassass, VA), Holland Tiara Branch (Louisville, KY); two brothers, Virgil Carman, Jr. (Atco, NJ), Keith Carman (Safford, AZ); one aunt, Juanita (Cleveland, OH); and a host of great grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.