Margaret Pryal Jones Steuart STEUART

Margaret Jones Steuart, "Peggy", passed away peacefully in her home of 60 years in Chevy Chase, Maryland on November 19, 2024, surrounded by her children, devoted caregivers and loyal dog, Pepper. She was 92 years old.
Peggy was born on May 31, 1932 in Montclair, New Jersey, the third of four children to Ruth Martin Jones, homemaker and former social worker from Madison, WI, and W. Rhys Jones, M.D. of Scranton PA, an obstetrician and Chief of Staff at Mountainside Hospital in Montclair.
First generation Americans of Irish and Welsh descent, they had a keen appreciation for learning, volunteerism, music and gardening, which they instilled in their children. Ruth held a degree in Social Work from University of Wisconsin at Madison and Rhys earned both his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, Scranton. Both were pianists and Rhys a church organist in his youth, reflective of their families' musical heritage. The spacious Tudor home in Montclair with a two-piano ballroom was the venue for many charitable and musical events.
Unlike her parents and siblings, Peggy ventured south for college, a fortuitous choice for it was a blind date that led her from Sweet Briar College in Virginia to a Washington & Lee University fraternity party where she met her future husband Guy Thomas Steuart II, of Washington, DC. They were married after her graduation in 1954. Guy was then in the US. Coast Guard in Gloucester, Massachusetts prompting their move to nearby Ipswich, where their first child, Elizabeth, was born, while her father was out to sea.
After moving to Guy's hometown in DC, Peggy joined the Junior League of Washington, the first of many lifelong volunteer activities. Their lovely home in Chevy Chase became a hub of charitable, social and family activities, and the house was featured twice at the St. Albans School Annual Holiday House Tour, which Peggy co-founded. She was known for her fashion and decorating flair, reflected also in homes in Queenstown on Maryland's Eastern Shore and family cottages at Half Moon Resort, Jamaica.
As the family grew, Peggy, not inclined to be a "stay-at-home mom", followed the children to school, beginning with Room Mother assignments at Norwood School which the children attended. During the School's transition to a new campus, her basement was the interim kindergarten classroom. She was a tireless volunteer during the move and later became a Board member and sage advisor. Despite her busy schedule, she somehow always found the time for school plays, athletic games, art and music events and later, Grandparents Day visits.
After the Norwood years, Peggy's focus turned to the Washington National Cathedral and its National Cathedral School for Girls (NCS) and Saint Albans School for Boys (STA). Guy was a 1949 Alumnus. Four sons followed, their daughter attended NCS, and grandchildren enrolled at both schools. Peggy's leadership attributes led to chairing the St. Albans' Mother's Committee and to Board positions at NCS and STA. Recently, the St. Albans Alumni Board conferred honorary Alumnus status to Peggy. She had a formidable institutional knowledge of the schools and the Cathedral Close. In addition, she was on the Cathedral's Building and Grounds committee and a major Capital Campaign initiative.
Her deep love of gardens found expression in the Cathedral's All Hallows Guild, which she served as President, and was twice Chair of the Guild's renowned annual Flower Mart festival on the Cathedral grounds. She was a stalwart presence rain or shine, with her signature hat, colorful scarf and matching jewelry at every Flower Mart, and helped designate Jamaica the 2012 featured country, a place she'd grown to know and love through Guy's family associations. Peggy made an indelible impact on the Guild, and her oft-sought advice was invaluable; members still wonder "what would Peggy think?" She was also an active board member of The American Friends of Jamaica.
Though her college major was Government, music was a constant in Peggy's life. An accomplished pianist, she minored in Music at Sweet Briar. She loved organ music, a nod to her father's early position. Her repertoire was classical, but she loved the popular music of her era, and American Songbook sheet music always accompanied her to entertain fellow travelers on small river cruises and trips with Washington and Lee Alumni tours and the Saint Albans "Flying Bulldogs" travel program, which she co-founded. She was intrepid and adventurous in her travels with Guy, also enjoying some memorable laughs and adventures afar with friends.
Peggy was the recipient of numerous accolades and awards including the 1995 "Mother of the Year" certificate for Washington, DC from "American Mothers, Inc.", and the Government of Jamaica's Order of Distinction in 2017 for her "significant contributions to the Tourism Sector". Recently, the Margaret "Peggy" Steuart annual Scholarship was created by The American Friends of Jamaica for Jamaican students interested in Hospitality.
Beyond the Cathedral Close, Peggy served for ten years as a Trustee of Washington and Lee University; Guy and all four sons are alumni and Guy preceded her on the Board. Numerous other institutions bore her mark as well, including The National Arboretum, National Museum of Women in the Arts, Tudor Place Historic House and Garden, and Parents Council of Washington. She was a member of Chevy Chase Club, Columbia Country Club and the Sulgrave Club.
Peggy will be deeply missed by many, but her legacy of generosity and selfless dedication lives on in the institutions she devoted herself to so tirelessly and those who knew her best, her countless friends and loving family.
Margaret, "Peggy", Mom, "GrandPeggy" was predeceased by her beloved husband of 66 years, Guy T. Steuart II in 2020. She leaves behind five children, Elizabeth (Gary Kret), Guy III (Cindy), Bradley (Jennifer), Carter (Katherine) and Hugh (Laura), 14 grandchildren, two step-granddaughters and four great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind a sister, Elizabeth Jones Glaeser, of New York.
A Celebration of her life will be held on June 14 at 11 a.m. in The Little Sanctuary, Saint Albans School, followed by a reception at Chevy Chase Club. Donations in her memory may be made to All Hallows Guild or The American Friends of Jamaica's Margaret "Peggy" Steuart Scholarship.
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