Pauline Peek

Mrs. Pauline Hodges Peek, of Calhoun, passed away on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 in Marietta, Georgia after several months of declining health. The family will received friends from 1-3 PM Saturday, June 28, 2014 at the Parlor of Thomas Funeral Home followed by a service at 3:00 PM in the Chapel and interment at Chandler Cemetery. Pauline Hodges Peek was born in Sevier County, Tennessee, June 22, 1929, the daughter of the late James Otha Hodges and Mary Alice Hodges. She is preceded in death by her son, David L. Peek, her husband of 54 years, Samuel D. Peek, brothers; Fred, Roy, Ira, and Hugh, and sisters; Dorothy Galyon and Ruth McDonald. Pauline was a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, and friend. She was educated at Sevier County High School, Carson Newman College (where she met her future husband, Sam), the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and West Georgia College; earning Bachelor of Science, Master of Education and Specialist in Education degrees. She served a total of forty two years teaching the young people of Sevierville, Tennessee; Jackson County, Alabama; Chattanooga, Tennessee; as well as Walker County, Gordon County, and Calhoun, Georgia; retiring in 1990. She loved every minute of her teaching career and creatively helped her students discover the joy of learning, particularly in the area of reading and writing. Former students and student teachers would often thank 'Mrs. Peek' for being such an inspiration and influence in their lives. Her outstanding achievements included being selected as Reading Teacher of the Year by the Cherokee Council of the International Reading Association in 1982, Teacher of the Year for Calhoun City Schools and a state semifinalist for Teacher of the Year in 1986, and Teacher of the Year for Calhoun City Schools again in 1990. In addition, she contributed to her profession as an active member and officer of the International Reading Association, the National Education Association, the Georgia Association of Education and the Gordon County-Calhoun Association of Educators. Pauline also demonstrated her leadership skills by serving as a state officer in Alpha Delta Kappa where she was honored on January 13, 2013 with 'Golden ADK Award' for 50 years membership from 1963-2013. Pauline served her community as; charter member of the Calhoun Civic Chorus, active member of the Calhoun-Gordon County Child Care Board, Gideon's Auxiliary, Sequoyah Garden Club, Georgia Fine Arts Academy, Gordon County Historical Society, and Child Abuse Council. She served faithfully as a Children's Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher. She loved to sing with her school children and in choirs, and sang right until the moment her soul left this earth for Heaven. She is survived by her son and his wife, Dale and Stephanye Peek of Marietta, Georgia, two grandsons, Jonathan and his wife Tiffany Peek of Marietta, Georgia, and Sr. Airman Joshua Peek, stationed at Osan Air Force Base, Korea, and two sisters; Jean Arnold Barnes of Nashville, Tennessee and Stella Manning of Sevierville, Tennessee, and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 3pm Saturday June 28th from the chapel of Thomas Funeral Home with the Rev. W.A. Galyon, Rev. Larry Burgess and Dr. John Bledsoe officiating. Burial will follow in Chandler Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Calhoun/Gordon County Gideon’s, the Arthritis Foundation, the Sequoyah Garden Club, or the Gordon County Historical Society. You may leave the Peek family online condolences at www.thomasfuneralhomecalhoun.com Thomas Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Pauline Peek.