Peggy Popp

Peggy Popp

MOORESVILLE - Peggy Popp, 80, of Mooresville, died Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011, at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. She was surrounded by her family. Peggy was a proud wife, mother and grandmother of eight, as well as an accomplished businesswoman.

Often referred to as "the first lady of Mooresville," Peggy owned several Mooresville and Cornelius businesses, helped restore and maintain historic downtown Mooresville, and received numerous awards and acknowledgements.

She remained active in retirement, volunteering with the Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce and other civic and community organizations, as well as her beloved church, the Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church.

She was a great partner to her loving husband of 58 years, Joseph S. Popp, an accomplished football coach who retired from the Cleveland Browns in the early 1990s after coaching at several high schools, colleges and professional teams throughout his career. In 1961, he took the Mooresville Senior High School Blue Devils to their first and only state championship and the stadium now bears his name: the Coach Joe Popp Stadium.

Peggy was instrumental in her husband's successful career, and as husband Joe often said, "She was in charge of everything off the football field."

Perhaps her most proud accomplishments were her three children, who all credit their successes to their mom. Oldest son Joey is a well-known Charlotte journalist. Host of HealthWise on WTVI, Charlotte's PBS station, Joey can also be heard weekly during NPR's Morning Edition on WFAE radio. Daughter Karen is a partner in a major international law firm and former Associate White House Counsel to President Clinton. She serves as vice chair on the Board of Trustees for UNC Charlotte and is a member of the Steering Committee for the 2012 Democratic Convention being held in Charlotte. Her youngest son Jimmy is the general manager of the Montreal Alouettes, a team that he has led to the Grey Cup (the CFL's "Super Bowl") eight times in 11 seasons.

Although Peggy often said her first and most important jobs were as wife, mother and grandmother, she also found time to volunteer in civic, community and church activities. Fortunately, she remained extremely active until suffering a stroke over the weekend, even working in her yard and flower garden days before her death.

Born Peggy Lou Morrison on Aug., 10, 1931 in Jonesville, she was the eldest of three children of Lelia and Charlie Morrison. During the 1940s and early 1950s, she trained under her father to run several businesses. After leaving home, marrying and raising her own children, she opened Peggy's Shoe Fashions on Mooresville's Main Street in 1977. She expanded the successful business into two other locations at Mooresville Marketplace and Shops on the Green in Cornelius. Peggy also owned and operated other downtown businesses, including The Strawberry Patch, Mooresville's first consignment shop, as well as Mooresville's Army/Navy Store. Her customers ranged from locals to those from Charlotte and other surrounding communities; Davidson College students were regulars in her stores.

She has been honored for numerous business and civic achievements. In 1985, the Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce named her "Merchant of the Year" for outstanding business leadership. At that time, former recipient and respected businessman Grady Shoe commented that "she is a downtown businesswoman of vision, courage and confidence. Peggy has taken a strong leadership role within our Chamber to organize and carry out dramatic programs to vitalize our downtown."

She also served on the Advisory Committee to the Mayor of Mooresville, was the recipient of Burlington Industries Gold Seal Merchant Award in 1987 and was later honored as the Chamber's "Ambassador of the Year." At different times, she was heavily involved in the Mooresville Senior High School Athletic Booster's Club, was a volunteer at the local hospital, Lake Norman Regional Medical Center and served on the Mooresville Human Relations Commission.

She received honors in her earlier years, too. For example, Peggy was named Mooresville Junior Civic League's "Woman of the Year" in 1961, having won the General Federation of Women's Clubs first place district award. Other accomplishments and activities include winning Vogue Pattern Service's Fashion Sewing Contest in 1962 and being named to the Mooresville Recreation Commission in 1961. She was a Girl Scout leader in the late 1940s and early 1950s in Jonesville-Elkin.

Eldest son Joey credits his mother's business and personal accomplishments as an inspiration to him. "It is amazing how much I learned from her. Not only did she teach me how to run a thriving business, but as a coach's wife, she also demonstrated how to manage the many responsibilities of running a successful household and maintaining a strong family circle. I'm so proud to have been a part of her life."

Daughter Karen remembers her mom as "always being my role model, mentor and best friend. She was a woman that could 'do it all.' Despite her many successes, she always stayed true to herself and believed in giving back. She loved unconditionally and was totally selfless in all her endeavors. As her only daughter, our bond has been instrumental in getting me to this point in my life. I will always have her by my side and in my heart."

Youngest son Jimmy says "Mom was always there for me. She was my safety net. No matter what challenges I faced, she always encouraged me that I could achieve whatever I wanted. She was extremely loving and gave to others and never expected or wanted anything back. She always encouraged and demonstrated the best work ethic, but had the unique ability to always complement and not criticize. What a tremendous leader. My mother was not only a great mom, she was a great woman. Her balance has really paved the way for my success."

Perhaps it is the youngest generation that best sums up her life.

Thirteen-year-old granddaughter Hannah says, "She was always happy and never mad about anything. She wanted to be with everybody. It was good to know that she was watching me play sports like softball. Grandma was always thinking about someone else besides herself. She would let me know that I did a good job and to keep going into what I believed in. When I think of Grandma Popp I think of her as a nice person, she always cared about other people and their feelings. For an example when we moved here she helped with our home and our garden."

Her twin sister Hayley agrees, remarking that "she put everyone in a good mood. When I saw her she was always doing something like helping around the house, never sitting down watching TV."

Eleven-year-old grandson Preston echoed those sentiments, commenting that "she was never in a bad mood. She cared about everybody, not just herself."

Nine-year old grandson Hudson agreed. "She was always happy. She loved everybody."

Her eight grandchildren are honor roll students and are active in numerous sports and extra-curricular activities.

Peggy is survived by her husband Joe, married for 58 beautiful years; oldest son Joey and his spouse Catherine of Charlotte; daughter Karen, her spouse M.C. and twin sons William and Ben of Chapel Hill; and son Jim, his spouse Kim and children Hannah, Hayley, Preston, Hudson, Payton-James and Ella-Rae, of Mooresville. She is also survived by her sister Frankie McDonald and family of Raleigh. Her brother Alex preceded her in death.

Service: Funeral Services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, at Mooresville Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church, 659 Carpenter Ave., Mooresville.

Visitation: Visitation will be held on Saturday, Nov. 19 from 3-6 p.m. at Cavin-Cook Funeral Home and Crematory, 464 E. Plaza Drive, Mooresville.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Mooresville ARP Church, 659 Carpenter Ave., Mooresville, NC 28115; or Mooresville-South Iredell Leadership Foundation, a Chamber of Commerce organization to benefit community projects for the Town of Mooresville, where Peggy volunteered her time on many projects. Donations can be addressed to MSI Leadership Foundation, Attn: Melinda Brown, P.O. Box 628, Mooresville, NC 28115.