Peggy Ruth Mcgirt

Peggy Ruth McGirt, 88, died peacefully in her sleep Thursday evening, May 2, 2024 at Scotia Village in Laurinburg NC.  She was born Valentine’s Day 1936 in Smiths Township, Robeson County NC, the youngest child of Archie Duncan McGirt, Sr. and his wife Alma Ada McCormick.  Her paternal grandparents were Angus Duncan McGirt and wife Mary Anne McGugan, and her maternal grandparents were James Duncan McCormick and his wife Harriet Floyd Webster.

Peggy graduated from Laurinburg High School, and then attended Flora MacDonald College in Red Springs NC where she received a B. A. in Elementary Education in 1958.  She was an elementary school teacher in North Carolina for over 38 years, having taught in Hamlet and Harnett County. She primarily taught first grade, and was delighted that over her career she taught several generations.

Miss McGirt was a faithful, life-long member of the Centre Presbyterian Church, having devoted her time and energy to the Women of the Church, various other church activities, and the fall Ingathering.

Peggy loved the beach and she, along with her two sisters, rented a place every summer for an annual Windy Hill Beach trip in order to spend time with the nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.  Her generosity ensured that the next generations would appreciate and love the beach as well.   Everyone who knew her knew how much she loved to cook.  She even cooked full-scale country meals at the beach!  She would bring a bushel of peas to the beach and everyone would sit on the condo balcony shelling peas and swapping family stories.  Her Thanksgiving feasts rivaled a Southern Living magazine cover, with every family member getting their favorite dish.

She was very interested in the McGirt family Scottish history and was a dedicated member of the McGirt Clan Family Reunion committee, having served as the secretary/treasurer and historian of the Clan for decades.

Peggy was also a sports enthusiast when it came to the Atlanta Braves baseball team and the UNC-Chapel Hill basketball team.  She also loved watching and feeding all of the birds in her garden and her yard, with a particular interest in her hummingbirds.

Peggy and her sister Virginia, both lived with their parents their whole lives and lovingly cared for their mother and father until their deaths.  She also helped Virginia for several years until she broke her hip and entered Scotia Village.

Peggy was a quiet, humble, caring, faith-filled Southern lady who will be missed.

She is survived by: her sister, Miss Virginia Floyd McGirt of Pinehurst; nephew Glenn Duncan McGirt of Greensboro; nieces Brenda McGirt Chappell of Walnut Cove, and Frances McGirt Barnes of Greensboro; grandnieces Megan McGirt Cosenza of Tervuren, Belgium and Meredith Barnes Bonham of Stokesdale; grandnephews Lee Graham Chappell of Walnut Cove and Joshua Lawrence Barnes of Winston-Salem; great-nephew Augustus Duncan Cosenza and great-niece Eleanor Louise Bonham.  Special cousins include: Grace Rabenhorst Webster, Helen Rabenhorst Harvell, Mary Linda Key Vaughn, Mickie Key Horne, Peggy Key Anderson and Aubrey McCormick.

Miss McGirt was preceded in death by: her parents; her brother, Archie Duncan McGirt, Jr.; and her sister, Miss Mary Ann McGirt.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 18, 2024 at Centre Presbyterian Church Cemetery, officiated by Rev. Scott Miller.  Donations can be made to Centre Presbyterian Church, 224 Oxendine School Road, Maxton NC 28364.

Bumgarner Family Funeral Service and Crematorium is assisting the family.

Online condolences can be made at www.bumgarnerfunerals.com.