Virginia DeVaughn Peniston

Virginia DeVaughn Peniston, 102, died Monday, February 19, 2007, in Atlanta. A memorial service will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Mediator in Washington-Wilkes on Saturday, March 3, at 2 p.m.

Mrs. Peniston was born in Montezuma, and was the daughter of the late McLendon Sherwood DeVaughn and Anne Elizabeth Sims DeVaughn. Her grandparents were James Elijah DeVaughn and Sarah Virginia McLendon DeVaughn of Montezuma, and Marshall Mercer Sims and Mary Miranda Robert of "The Cedars" in Washington- Wilkes. On her first trip away from family and friends after graduating from high school she attended the Julliard School of Music in New York City. After her marriage to Thomas Jackson Peniston in 1928, they lived in Atlanta for 40 years. While living in Atlanta she was a charter member of the First Piano Duet Club of Atlanta, the 1904 Study Club, Four Seasons Garden Club, and was an officer for several years in the Rabun Gap Nacoochee Guild. She enjoyed genealogy and was a member of the James Edward Oglethorpe Daughters of American Colonists, Daughters of Colonial Wars, the Huguenot Society, State Regent of the Colonial Dames XVII Century, Descendants Knights of the Garter, Magna Charta Dames, and past Regent of Joseph Habersham Chapter DAR. After her husband's death in 1964, she moved back to Washington to help her mother, "Sister Bess," until her death in 1975. She was a member of the Kettle Creek Chapter DAR and the Iris Garden Club. She was named Washington Rotary Club Citizen of the Year for 1977-78 for serving as chairman of the Wilkes County Beautification Campaign which won a national award. She moved to Atlanta in 2000 to be near other family members.

Survivors include a son, Paul E. Peniston III of Hartwell; and a daughter, Ellen P. Rafeedie of Atlanta; grandchildren, Thomas S. Peniston of Hollywood, Calif, Virginia P. Dalton of Irvine, Calif., Carey P. Tower, St. Petersburg, Fla., Matthew Peniston, Tampa, Fla., Wilson T. Peniston, Newnan, Paul Eugene Peniston IV, Greenville, S.C., McLendon P. Rafeedie, Atlanta, David P. Rafeedie, Wake Forest, N.C., and Dr. Steven P. Rafeedie, Atlanta; and 11 greatgrandchildren

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