Peggy Nesbitt

Peggy Arlene O’Neal Nesbitt entered the world on February 14, 1934 in Nashville, Tennessee as the oldest of eight children born to the late William, Sr. and Gladys (nee Dean) O’Neal. She entered into eternal rest on July 31, 2025.

Peggy was educated in the public schools of Davidson County. Upon completing her education, she received training as a laboratory technician in the histology department at Hubbard Hospital. She worked as a laboratory technician for many years at Memorial Hospital, and later Skyline Medical Center until her retirement in 2004. After retiring from Skyline, Peggy served as a greeter for Gaylord Opryland where she shared her engaging, welcoming, and outgoing personality with many visitors to Nashville.

Peggy united in matrimony with the late Thomas Morgan, Sr., and to that union were born two children: Debra and Michael. She was later joined in marriage to the late John Nesbitt.

Peggy was a devoted member of Mount Sinai Cumberland Presbyterian Church for many years where she served as an Usher and was elected by the congregation to serve on the Board of Elders. She later joined First Baptist Church of East Nashville where she was an active member of the Missionary Society and Hospitality Committee. Although her declining health limited her attendance, Peggy remained a faithful member of the First Baptist Church family.

Peggy was a founding member of the Vashti Chapter #31 of the Rebecca Grand Chapter of the International Free and Accepted Modern Masons, Incorporated and Order of the Eastern Star. As an Eastern Star, she performed many roles, with the most important being the Past Grand Matron of Tennessee from 1999 through 2002. She was also an active member of the Red Hat Society. She appreciated the friendships established through her attendance and participation at FiftyForward Madison. Affectionately known by her family as “Tede”, Peggy enjoyed traveling and cooking, and especially treasured the time spent with her family at gatherings for special occasions, holidays, or just because. In her retirement, she often found time to visit schools to read to children.

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, William, Sr. and Gladys O’Neal; siblings, William, Jr., Barbara, Velma, Evelyn, Nathan, and Nathaniel; daughter-in-law, Shirley Morgan; and devoted friend, John McCollough.

The loving and devoted members of Peggy’s family left to cherish her memory include her children, Debra Blackshear and Michael Morgan; brother, Richard (Honza) O’Neal; daughter-in-law, Sharon Morgan; grandchildren, Tracy Morgan, Narquenta Garrett, Angelita (Derrick) Dalton, David Vaughn, and LaShanda Morgan; bonus granddaughters, Nicholet Henderson and Sherry (Deon) Mitchell; and a host of great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends.