Ann Flinn Peyton

1936 - 2025

Ann Flinn Peyton, born Stella Ann Nelson on February 19, 1936, in Mer Rouge, Louisiana, was a whirlwind of a woman who set out to live a purposeful life.

Showcasing a spirit made of fire and steel, she was constantly reciting Romans 8:28: ""And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."" - New International Version.

She taught us to believe that even the darkest moments are part of God's purpose and can bring us to His light.


Ann was a fierce Christian who cared deeply for others and constantly sought ways to serve and to grow her knowledge and skills. As one could imagine, she never took a break-she was the embodiment of busyness. She always needed a purpose or a project, something to keep her mind and hands engaged.

This drive was clearly demonstrated by her five master's degrees (as she once put it, she ""didn't like anything enough to get a doctorate"").

Although her childhood was spent in Monroe, Louisiana, surrounded by family and cousins, her adulthood was filled with marriage, travel, and attendance at multiple universities at different times. She was the textbook example of a lifelong learner.

Ann taught special education at several schools, including Hamilton High School and Shady Grove Elementary. She believed that all children could be reached once you found their ""language,"" and she was known for taking on the toughest cases-children with mental illness and intellectual disabilities, the kind of students who needed her love and dedication the most.

The same heart that advocated for others fiercely loved her family: Son Hal Peyton; son Clif Peyton and his wife Kim; daughter Claire McElvaney and her husband Seth; grandchildren Allie, Anika, Ryan, Hopkins, Olivia, Katie, Ashford, Ethan, and Brianna; and great-grandchildren Aria, Yates, Henlee, Wesley, Eleanor, Valerie, and (soon to join us) Mary Klaire. She was predeceased by her late ex-husband (but lifelong best friend) Dr. Henry H. Peyton, III.

She pushed her children to work hard, to find purpose, to never waste anything, and to constantly seek knowledge-just as she did.

It is hard to compress someone's life into just a few words. Ann was a lifelong learner with Ivy League degrees and a passion for any educational opportunity she could find-especially those involving gardening. She was a book addict, reading two or three books a week plus her devotionals; a line dancer; a devoted Christian with a servant's heart; a mahjong maven; and someone who believed that almost anything could be fixed if you tried hard enough.

She saw beauty in imperfection and often reminded us: ""If it is life-changing and God wants it to happen, you won't miss it.""
This brave warrior fought multiple cancers, enduring everything from chemotherapy to surgery. Yet this last cancer, as it metastasized, could not take her spirit. On behalf of our mother, please don't say that cancer ""won"" or ""beat her."" She took control-even in the end.

Ann chose hospice because she wanted her sharp mind to remain intact, even as her body weakened. While it was difficult to let her go, we recognized that she had power until the end: choosing to go to God, choosing to go Home, on her own terms and in her own bed, surrounded by loved ones. During her last hours, she listened to some of her favorite songs as we held her hands until the end.

She will be missed. She will be mourned. But she will also be celebrated-for her passionate life, her unwavering faith, and her final peace.

If you would like to honor her spirit, please do not send flowers. Instead, honor her wishes by sending hope through donations to:
• Tunica Humane Society (https://www.tunicahumanesociety.com)
• The Salvation Army (https://www.salvationarmyusa.org)
Both organizations were dear to her heart and reflected her lifelong compassion for others.

In her honor, do good in this world. Grow in your heart, deepen your faith in God, and continue your pursuit of knowledge. She was an earthly flame and will be deeply missed-may her light and warmth always stay with us.