A
Tribute To Howell Peele
Tim
Johnson
July
2, 2011
As we gather to pay tribute to the memory of Howell Peele, we also pay tribute to a generation that grew up in hard times, fought a war against tyranny and made the best of their lives and wanted even better for their children.
It
was December 5, 1970 that I realized I was not only marrying Susan,
but also marrying into a dynasty. Others, like myself, understand. I
don't know about your wedding, but at ours the odds were 250 for
Susan and 250 “We'll see” about this guy she is marrying.
A
few months later, there was a gathering of the clan at the Peele's epicenter in Martin County, North Carolina.
The
Peele Farm was a working farm. Miss Annie, the mother and matriarch,
was loved and respected by her 10 surviving children and their
spouses and offspring.
A
few of her children still lived in the area of their birth. The rest
were drawn from points afar to assume their place when the occasion
dictated.
The
cousins, nearly grown and independent, chatted and enjoyed every
reunion and relived their shared childhood experiences. The brothers
and sisters took care of the necessity of feeding, clearing and
washing the dishes and sorting out who would take what home and
sometimes share recipes.
They
had been doing everything "just so" for so long it was
interesting to watch and dangerous to step in. Everyone knew who was
who and what had to be done.
It
was Uncle Howell who noticed and first approached me, told me a
little of what was going on and gauged if there might be some common
ground where we might talk. The church, music, the wonder of the
family and the population growth in Cary sufficed for that day.
With
an ear always turned to hear his name attached to some task, he
covered family history, tried to point out the couples and who was
who and explained how the 10 had survived and thrived through some
interesting times.
At
the core was a reverence for his father and mother and an
appreciation that this site was hallowed ground.
No
matter where any of the family would live, work, or raise their
families, belonging to this family and this place was emotional,
physical and connected one another with spiritual glue.
On
one occasion Uncle Howell was my company as we traveled from a
funeral in Virginia Beach back to Cary. Music,
the First United Methodist Church, other musical choruses, his work
at the NCDOT, interesting bits of NC and family history, his pride in
his children and his love of gardening made the trip fly. (His friends knew that he had an opinion or two about society and politics.)
He
was concerned that Aunt Sally would not know when to expect him and I
said to call her. He didn't want to stop but this was a new age. At
the time I had a 12 pound, 3 watt bag phone. That was before phones
got smarter than their owners.
He
felt compelled to speak rather loudly and tell Sally he was talking
to her in a moving car and would be home within the hour.
The
time flew but the stories endure with me as your own Daddy, Granddaddy
or Howell Peele stories abide in your own heart.
Susan's
favorite Uncle Howell phrase came after the family had mostly
dismissed itself after Uncle Charles' memorial service back near the home. He reflected
that it had been just the brothers that had passed on to that point
and that he thought it was time for one of the sisters to take a
turn.
He
was a man proper and sweet, precise and kind, and comfortable in the
home and life he and Sally had created.
He extended his kindness
to our twins, taking Crissie and Elizabeth to the theater, NCSU ballgames and to the
opera.
Years
ago, the first of the brothers and sisters died, and in the time
intervening, the number of survivors diminished. Recently, Miss
Doris, the baby of the family, passed on. Howell did not want to be
last but that was not in his hands.
Once
again, he is home. The reunion is complete as he joins the “great
cloud of witnesses”. He is better off now than any of us. He is at
a table more grand than the one spread in Martin County.
Our
Lord gave us the greatest commandment and we are to honor His words
with our lives.
Howell's life fulfilled what many rabbis called the
“hardest” commandment:
To
honor your father and mother.
With
his voice, hands and heart he obeyed that commandment as he also
honored his Father in heaven. Tim
Howell's Obituary:
Howell R. Peele, 89, passed away on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at Carriage House in Greensboro, NC. Graveside services will be held on Saturday, 11:00 am at Montlawn Memorial Park in Raleigh, NC.
Howell was born on Aug. 3, 1921 in Martin County, NC, the son of Charles M. and Crissie Ann Peele. He served his country during WW II as a corporal in the US Army Air Corp. Upon completion of his military service, he attended North Carolina State College where he played tuba in the marching band. He graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering. He worked as a Highway and Bridge Designer with the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Howell was a member of the Cary First Methodist Church for over 50 years where he sang in the choir. Other activities included Cary Kiwanis Club, singing bass with the Sir Walter Chorus of Raleigh, gardening, Friends of the College, Raleigh Little Theater and lifetime membership in the NCSU Alumni Association.
Howell was preceded in death by his loving wife, Sally Peele in 2008 and five brothers and four sisters. Surviving are his son, Howell R. Peele Jr. of Montgomery, AL and his daughter, Ruby P. McGhee and husband Craig of Jamestown, NC; grandchildren: Joel McGhee, and Kevin McGhee and wife Alicia Raymond.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Christen Foundation, Amedisys Hospice, 1111 Huffman Mill Road, Suite 102, Burlington, NC 27215.
