Peggy Goins Blair of Galax was born September 6, l936 to the late Jake Goins and the late Gretchen Tucker Goins Gwyn of Galax, Virginia. She was the third oldest of 10 siblings. She was married to the late Haywood Harold Grey Blair, Sr., of Galax, Virginia, for 35 years before his death. To this union were born 10 children. One son, Juan Eugene, preceded her in death.


Peggy was a remarkable woman. When her mother died at the very young age of 42, Peggy and Haywood took her two youngest siblings, Tommy and Dean, in and raised them as their own. She worked hard along with Haywood Sr. to raise their nine children and assist with her young brothers and sisters.


Peggy received her early formal education from the Rosenwald-Felts Elementary School with a brief educational stint in the Alexandria, Virginia public schools and ultimately graduating from Scott Memorial in Wytheville, VA. Peggy had a passion for education. She continued studies with correspondence courses from Rhema Bible College and local courses in Biblical studies taught at the Cliffview Church of God Bible School in Galax. She also enrolled in eschatology courses with a local church. She continued with studies in geriatrics at the WCC. She finally studied and completed her certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant.


Peggy worked for a number of years for the Rooftop of Virginia and along with long time friend Elsie Williams and her beloved sister Carolyn, she taught preschool aged children how to read… During her tenure with the Rooftop of Virginia, Peggy touched the lives of hundreds possibly thousands who passed through the doors of what later became the Recreational Center. In this capacity she taught life skill classes which included cooking, sewing, upholstery, tailoring and other domestic and life skills to young women. Other than being a wife and mother, there was nothing more dear to her than her relationship with the Lord and her call to evangelize and reach the world with the great message of Jesus Christ. After the death of her beloved, Haywood, Peggy continued employment at Roses Department Store and then at Golden Living Nursing were she worked as a CNA.


Peggy received Christ as her savior at the age of 26. She shared her great testimony with passion and fervency of how she was in a revival service and reached up to catch a dove that she saw and as she did she begin speaking in other tongues and the spirit gave utterance! She was never the same. Her relationship with the Lord was very real, powerful and personal. She was a member of the Faith Tabernacle Holy Church of God, Inc. for many years and served there faithfully with her children in whatever capacity necessary. It was there that she was licensed as a minister and evangelist with the Holiness Church of God, Inc. headquartered in Winston-Salem, NC. From there, she went on to plant the Pillar of Truth Ministries and release the ministry to another pastor after it was established. She felt called only to evangelize and loved what God had called her to do.


Nothing she involved herself in surpassed her love of the lord and the desire to reach nations of the World with the Message of Jesus Christ. From Christmas socials to Mary Kay parties….Peggy would open up her home and heart and share the saving message of Jesus Christ. Her home became a "saving station" and a place where all of her daughter's friends received salvation and the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Her desire to see the talents and gifts of her children used in the kingdom of God was expressed through her untiring efforts to develop these gifts through the purchase of pianos, clarinets, trumpets. The list goes on. She would sing with them from church to church and preach the message of the Gospel. Proverbs says it well. Peggy continued to serve her God and her family taking care of her disabled daughter in her home until her sudden sickness induced by the effects of a stroke while at the funeral of her dear sister, Nancy. Her ministry continued throughout her lengthy illness as she brought light to those taking care of her and visiting her with her heartfelt smiles and reaffirming touches. She was quite an amazing woman. Few surpass her and her children aspire to live up to her legacy.


She leaves to mourn her sons and daughters-in-law, Haywood of Rocky Mt. NC and Jermaine (Ginny) Charlotte, NC; her daughters and sons-in-law Judy Williams of Galax, Jacqueline (James) Bryan Sparta, NC, Janet (Harry)Grubb, Max Meadows, VA, Jessica (Sidney) Beamer Charlotte, NC, Jewell (Junius) Moyler Chesapeake, VA, Janell(Jeff) Hash, Roanoke, VA, Justina (David)Reid Greensboro, NC; 22 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Four brothers also survive James (Independence, VA), Douglas & Charity (Sparta, NC), Thomas & Christine(Kenosha, Wisconsin), Dennis & Joann (Roanoke)and Dean Gwyn (Galax, VA) and a dear sister and brother in law Lelia and William Nelson of Alexandria, VA and a host of nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly. Three sisters preceded her in death, Carolyn Kyle, Nancy Herring and Christine(Snooky) Maxwell.

The funeral service will be held Sunday, July 18, 2010 at 3:00 PM in the First Baptist Church, Galax, VA with interment to follow in the Oldtown Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Saturday, July 17, 2010 from 7 until 9 PM at the church.