Peggy Rouse, 87

February 2, 1938 – June 4, 2025

NETTLETON – After a full, purpose-filled life that always included her family, her music and her love of the Gospel, Peggy Joyce Davis Rouse died at her longtime Nettleton residence on Wednesday morning, June 4, 2025. She was 87 years old. Born in Belmont, Tishomingo County on Feb. 2, 1938 to the late Bill and Dezzie Clement Davis. Peggy attended Belmont High School. She married Billy Ray Rouse in Red Bay, Ala. on July 10, 1955, a marriage of almost 70 years. Peggy later attended Itawamba Junior College and went to MSCW in Columbus (now MUW) where she obtained a BA degree in Music. She began a career as a public school music teacher teaching over 35 years in Nettleton School as well as Plantersville School. Ultimately, she completed an MA Degree in Music Education from Ole Miss. Peggy’s love of music was legendary.

Along with her teaching job, she privately taught piano to hundreds of students in her lifetime. Her music had a touch of eloquence as a virtuoso as she expressed her wonderful self through the pieces she played. However, she could play any genre of music from Southern gospel, to ragtime to the classics. A perfect reader of music, Peggy accomplished many milestones in her life as a pianist and music educator. She began playing at First Baptist Church in Belmont at age 10. After moving to Nettleton with Billy in 1958, she became pianist at the First Baptist Church-Nettleton. Until Alzheimer’s robbed her of some of her talents, she continuously played until 2022, 64 years total. Her talents blessed many a soul and her dedication to seeing that the next generation would respect and play piano has enriched the entire Nettleton community.

Always dressed to the 9s and known for her signature hats, Peggy enjoyed attending the Tupelo Symphony Orchestra concerts as well as other music venues. She loved her daughters and was an unabashed virtuous Christian lady as described in Proverbs 31. She loved studying her Bible, theology, and commentaries on the Word. Peggy was blessed with the gifts of discernment and prayer and loved talking about Jesus. She spent almost 68 years as a member of the First Baptist Church of Nettleton where her love of life, family, others, and music enriched the quality of life for everyone she came in contact with and placed her in favor with God and mankind.

A service celebrating her life will be held at 1 PM Friday, June 6, 2025, from the Sanctuary of the First Baptist Church-Nettleton with her pastor, Bro. Brad Geno and her nephew, Bro. Haskell Sparks officiating. Private burial will be in Jones Chapel Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Church from 11 AM until service time 1 PM on Friday. The service may be viewed at 1 PM Friday on First Baptist Church of Nettleton Facebook page.

Peggy is survived by a grateful family: her husband, Billy Rouse of Nettleton; her daughters, Sharon Rouse of Nettleton, Delonah Rouse Turner (Jerry) of Harrisburg, Illinois, and Patti Rouse Hawkins (Tommy) of Nettleton; three grandchildren, Will Hawkins (Kayla), Makenzie Sullivan (Dalton), and Sarah Rouse; four great-grandchildren, Addie, Ava, and Hudson Hawkins, and Stella Sullivan; numerous nieces and nephews and their families. Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Dezzie Davis, and was the last of seven siblings, Frances, Betty, Dot, Eugene, Harold and Patsy.

Special thanks to Peggy’s caregivers, Donna Holley, Wanda Kyle, Belinda Owens, Eunice Carrouthers, Melinda Holland, Dianne Middlebrook, A Caring Hand at Home, and NMMC Home Care and Hospice.

Memorials may be made to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital Foundation, P. O. Box 41817, Memphis, TN 38174, or to First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 427, Nettleton, MS 38858. Condolences may be posted on Peggy’s memorial page at hollandfuneraldirectors.com. Holland Funeral Directors is honored to serve their friends.

Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.

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