Peggy Davis Ethridge

ENFIELD – Peggy Davis Ethridge, age 83, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, August 13, 2026.  Born in Edgecombe County, NC on August 17, 1942, she was the daughter of the late Floyd Thomas Davis and Eula Williams Davis.  She was also preceded in death by her brothers Bill Davis, James Davis and Rev. Alvin Ray Davis; and her sisters, Flora Davis Brinkley, Betty Davis and Shirley Davis Flood.

Peggy lived her life with a quiet strength, steadfast faith, and remarkable resilience that left a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to know and love her. For fourteen years, she faced lung cancer with tremendous courage and determination, yet she never allowed her illness to define her or overshadow the life she loved. In fact, many who encountered Peggy would have never known the battle she was fighting. She continued to love deeply, enjoy life, and remain devoted to the people and things that mattered most to her. At the center of Peggy’s life was her love for the Lord. Her faith was not something she merely spoke about; it was something she lived. Tabernacle Baptist Church in Enfield held an especially important place in her heart. As one of the church’s founding members, Peggy was part of its story for more than fifty years. Through the decades, she served her church family in several ways, including sharing her voice through singing and using her talents to decorate the church for special occasions. She treasured her church and the relationships she formed there.

Peggy also spent an extraordinary sixty-three years as a beautician. Her career gave her the opportunity not only to use her talents, but also to build relationships with generations of people. For Peggy, time spent behind the chair was about much more than fixing hair. It was conversation, friendship, laughter, and caring for people. Over the course of her remarkable career, countless people had the opportunity to sit in her chair and experience that personal touch. As much as Peggy loved her work and her church, few things brought her greater joy than her family. She deeply loved her children and especially adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Time spent together was precious to her, including the family’s annual trips to White Lake, which became a treasured tradition and the setting for many wonderful memories through the years.

Peggy also knew how to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. She loved to fish and enjoyed collecting dolls, building a collection over the years that reflected one of her favorite hobbies. She was a devoted sports fan who could happily cheer for the North Carolina Tar Heels and the New York Yankees, and when it came to music, Elvis Presley always held a special place in her heart. Peggy’s life was rich in the things that mattered most to her: her Lord, her family, her church, her work, and the traditions and simple joys that made life meaningful. She met both the blessings and difficulties of life with the same enduring strength and devotion that those closest to her knew so well. Her life was one of perseverance, faith, and love. The legacy she leaves behind will live on through her family, her church family, her friends, and the many people whose lives were touched by Miss Peggy along the way.

Peggy is survived by her daughters, Brenda Murphy Jenkins (West) and Donna Murphy Mays (Mark); her grandchildren, Bradley Parham and Kayleigh Mays Johnson (Cullen); her great grandchildren, Ava Parham, Isaiah Parham, Aaden Parham, Lila Parham, Elijah Parham and Madison Difede; her brother, Bobby Davis (Ann) and many nieces and nephews and a special friend, Henry Clay.

A Funeral Service to celebrate Peggy’s life will be held on her birthday, Monday, August 17, 2026, at 2:00 PM in the Chapel of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home and Cremation Services with Rev. Todd Lewis officiating.  Burial will follow the service at Elmwood Cemetery.  Visitation with the family will be from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM prior to the service in the Atrium of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made in Peggy’s memory to Tabernacle Baptist Church, 1742 Ringwood Road, Enfield, NC 27823.

Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.  You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.