Peggy Reynolds Carter

I Brake for Butterflies

Mrs. Peggy Reynolds Carter died at the Balfour Cherrywood Village assisted living facility in Louisville, Colorado on January 7, 2015 at the age of 75. Her peaceful passing ended her graceful and courageous battle with Alzheimer's.
Peggy is survived by husband, Linwood T. Carter, children, Elizabeth Levergood George of Broomfield, CO and Jason Warren Levergood of Washington, D.C., son in law Anthony James George, and grandchildren Dylan Walker George and Christofer James George.
Peggy was born on June 28, 1939 in Shelby, North Carolina to Warren and Vera Reynolds. She graduated from Kings Mountain High School and from the University of Tennessee with degrees in Mathematics and French. She often commented on her love of France after studying abroad in Paris.
Peggy was an accomplished math teacher deeply committed to helping her students advance. Among other Charlotte Mecklenburg schools, Peggy taught at Charlotte Country Day School for over ten years. Many of her students made decisions to pursue careers employing math skills due to her energy and instruction in the classroom. Peggy was fondly known in class for her love of complex origami including the rhombicosidodecahedron, unforgettable by many of her students. In her earlier teaching years, Peggy also taught at the Nevin's Center in Charlotte, a school for students with developmental disabilities.
She married Linwood Carter on March 23, 1997, who also has two grown children, Carol Carter Evangelist and Catherine Elizabeth Carter. Linwood remembers Peggy's strong faith exemplified by resilient peace and joy throughout her illness.
For those that knew Peggy well, she was emotionally transparent and generous in giving of herself. She was also an active member of the church, radiant in her faith and bold in her compassion for others. She was consistent in befriending and supporting people in need. She loved the butterfly, taking it as her personal spiritual symbol. She proudly displayed a car bumper sticker stating 'I brake for butterflies.' In her last years at the Balfour home, caretakers complimented Peggy on the love and support she showed other residents despite her own health challenges.
Peggy believed that excellent manners and considerate behavior were important attributes and worked to instill these qualities in her children. She was adept at balancing frugality with generosity. She was also especially great at maintaining relationships and tendering close lifelong connections with many of her school friends from Kings Mountain as well as her students and friends in Charlotte. She did her best to visit Jason and Elizabeth in their many geographical moves. She looked stunning in a kimono and made dear and lasting friendships in Japan after a visit to see Jason in 1999.
Peggy was wittily irreverent and loved to laugh and make people laugh. She was also quite the practical jokester. Her grandchildren remember laughing hysterically with her and that she was great fun to cut-up with. She was a great dancer, especially doing the Shag. Even in the last year of her life she was still the rightful 'Belle of the Ball' dancing at Balfour. Peggy is surely smiling and dancing now.
Based on Peggy's wishes, a 'celebration' (rather than a memorial) is scheduled for Friday February 27th at 1:00 PM at Saint John's Episcopal Church, on Carmel Road across from Charlotte Country Day School, in Charlotte, North Carolina with a reception to follow. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Peggy's life. Condolences may be left on the Crist Mortuary tribute page at http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Peggy-Carter&lc=2558&pid=173766757&mid=6269518&cid=em.legacy.dm.2558.6269518&eid=sp_sciobitposted.
The family would like to thank the loving Balfour Cherrywood Village staff for their excellent care over the last five years. They would also like to thank Peggy's many wonderful students for all of the thoughtful memories sent to Elizabeth and Jason.