Walter Peavy: gone in middle age

Doubly related to me

Walter L. PEAVY is my first cousin twice removed, and he is related to me through my maternal grandmother and maternal grandfather.

Walter’s mother, Arzetta MARTIN PEAVY (1873-1957) was a sister of my great-grandfather, Adolphus Burdine MARTIN (1867-1917). Walter’s father, Mallie PEAVY (1850-1932) was the grandson of Malachi GRANT, who was likely the father or uncle of my 3^rd great-grandfather, Jeremiah GRANT.

Early life

Walter was born in South Carolina, probably in Marlboro County, on 29 Dec 1897. In the 1900 census, Mallie’s occupation is minister and butcher. They lived in Bennettsville in Marlboro County.

In 1910, when Walter is 13, the family lived in Red Bluff, also in Marlboro County. Walter attended school, while his older siblings and father worked at a cotton mill.

In 1920, Walter worked in a cotton mill along with his father and mother and all his siblings of working age. Walter had eight siblings. At this time the family lived at 97 Sloane Street in Clinton, Laurens County, South Carolina.

Walter leaves home

Walter married Ollie Mae SNEAD (1904-1993) in Caswell County, North Carolina in 1924. Caswell County is north of Burlington, North Carolina near the VA/NC border. Walter was likely working in a cotton mill at this time.

Come 1930, Walter and Ollie and three of their four daughters lived in Pittsylvania County, Virginia which is west of Danville, Virginia. Walter was a painter now. Daughter number four arrived soon a few years later, and the family lived in several homes in Danville until 1939. Walter purchased a home at 188 Clement Ave in Danville. Click HERE to see the house

Successful businessman

Walter was one of the only four painting contractors in Danville in 1939. He probably had a thriving business. He and his family were church goers, attending the Church of God first and then the Third Avenue Christian Church later.

Life was good for Walter and his family. Walter worked, the girls attended school, and Ollie kept house.

Walter takes sick

In the mid-1940’s Walter became ill with Hodgkin’s disease. At that time radiation was the treatment for Hodgkin’s. Did Walter have radiation therapy? I don’t know.

On 14 June 1947, Walter died at the Memorial Hospital in Danville from Hodgkin’s disease. He was a young 49 years old. His four girls were your adults, none married yet. And Ollie was in her mid-40’s. Walter was buried at Highland Burial Park in Danville, Virginia.

Ollie stayed in Danville for the rest of her life and never remarried. The girls eventually married and had families of their own.

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