Peggy Medley

Gaffney, SC - - Peggy Bell Medley, 71, of Gaffney, S.C., went home to her Savior on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

A lifelong educator and faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Peggy was born May 10, 1954, in Blacksburg, S.C. to the late Warren Darvin Bell, Sr. and Margaret Neely Bell.  Peggy spent most of her life as a loyal wife, devoted mother, and doting grandmother.  Peggy Medley graduated from Blacksburg High School in 1971 and quickly married her high school sweetheart and soulmate, Barry Gene Medley, a man she honored and adored for over 46 years until his death in 2019.  A 1974 graduate of Limestone College, Peggy received her degree in English and then shortly after received a master's degree in education from Converse University.  She immediately moved to the classroom at her alma mater, devoting her professional career to teaching English and striving to instill a love of the written word and books to her high school students for nearly 30 years.  After her retirement, lake life became her passion, and with Barry, they would cruise Lake Murray, travel the states in their RV, and cheer on their grandchildren in their individual passions.

Peggy was first and foremost a steadfast believer, often recounting tales to her children of sharing her testimony with the family chickens well before she was ten years old.  She was unwavering in her faith and her love for family, and never demonstrated this more beautifully to her sons than by her absolute refusal to leave their father's side for one night as he fought his own health battles in the hospital for months.  Even after the untimely death of her eldest son, Peggy still clung to her faith as the cornerstone of her life and would often say that true living boiled down to the simple truth found in her favorite Bible verse, John 3:16.

In addition to her parents, Peggy was predeceased by her husband of 46 years, Barry Gene Medley, her eldest son, Richard Bryan Medley, and her younger brother, Warren Darvin Bell, Jr.  She is survived by her younger son, David Craig Medley (Jordan) of Columbia, her grandchildren, Luke Medley of Gaffney, Ellison and Cannon Medley of Columbia, her daughter-in-law, Teri Ann Medley of Gaffney, her sister-in-law, Lisa Gardner Bell of Gaffney, her nieces, Erin Bell Hillyard (Jonathan) of Atlanta, and Kaitlin Bell Parks of Gaffney, as well as numerous cousins and friends.  It is those who will remember Peggy for her quiet spirit, faithful service to her church, and unconditional love for her family.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00PM on Friday, January 9, 2026 in Frederick Memorial Gardens with Pastor Charles McClure and Reverend Roger Ham officiating.  The family will receive friends following the service at the graveside.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Park Hills Baptist Church, 1100 Leadmine Road, Gaffney, SC 29340.

The family will be at 1544 Leadmine Road, Gaffney.

An online guest register is available at www.blakelyfuneralhome.com

Blakely Funeral Home & Crematory, Gaffney, SC