Peggy Goodwin Abernathy

Services for Peggy Abernathy, 79, of Tyler, will be held on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at 10:00 AM at Rose Heights Church in Tyler with Rev. Doug Anderson officiating. Burial will follow at Cathedral In The Pines in Tyler under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Peggy Abernathy went to be with the Lord on February 13, 2015 after a brief illness. She was born May 18, 1935 in Crescent City, Florida. Peggy lived her life as a servant of the Lord with a heart for the needy. In the early 1980s, she set up a “clothes closet” at Living Word Church, a charity where people in need could receive donated clothing. In 1984, she and her husband co-founded The King’s Storehouse, the first food bank in East Texas that would eventually feed tens of thousands of the hungry. Today it serves over 100 organizations in more than 22 counties. Peggy, being legally blind for the last 20 years, took a cab or bus every day to the storehouse to volunteer as the Director of Operations. The King’s Storehouse continues to grow and recently acquired an additional building, which was named The Peggy Abernathy Annex in her honor. She then opened The Gold Carriage, a consignment shop run by her and her daughter, Marcia. Peggy juggled both her business and volunteer work with the food bank for well over 20 years. In 2002, the Lord laid on her heart to close The Gold Carriage to focus her energy solely on the food bank, which she knew to be her true calling in life. The Tyler City Council declared October 18, 2009 to be ‘Peggy Abernathy Day’ in the City of Tyler and she has been awarded a key to the city in honor of her service to the community. Peggy was also the recipient of the Humanitarian Award given by the Rose Garden Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association. In 2012, Peggy received the Stone Soup Award from PATH in recognition of her efforts to feed the hungry. Peggy is predeceased by her husband, William “Bill” Abernathy and her daughter, Marcia Campbell. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Billie and Jim Bickerdike; daughter and son-in-law Donna and Terry Blackwell; grandchildren Bryan Campbell, Amanda Zorbanos, Hunter Bickerdike, Taylor Bickerdike, Tyler Blackwell, and Blair Blackwell; and four great-grandchildren. Pallbearers are Jim Bickerdike, Terry Blackwell, Bryan Campbell, Hunter Bickerdike, Taylor Bickerdike, and Tyler Blackwell. Honorary Pallbearer is Robert Taylor. Special thanks to the contributors, volunteers, staff, and board members of The King’s Storehouse who help carry on Peggy’s legacy. Visitation is scheduled from 5:30-7:30 PM on Monday, February 16, 2015, at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, in Tyler. Memorial gifts may be made to The King’s Storehouse Food Bank, PO Box 131782, Tyler, Texas 75713.

Peggy Goodwin Abernathy

May 18, 1935 - February 13, 2015