Peggy Jean Wells Middleton

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, December 30, 2015

June 23, 1930 – Dec. 28, 2015

NATCHEZ — Services for Peggy Jean Wells Middleton, 85, of Natchez, who died peacefully Monday, Dec. 28, 2015, at Merit Health Natchez, will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Jefferson Street United Methodist Church with the Rev. John Kramer officiating.

Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. until service time Thursday at the church.

Mrs. Middleton was born June 23, 1930, in Philadelphia, the daughter of Lester Lee Wells and Alice Mae Peebles Wells.

She moved to Natchez with her family at age 6 and attended Natchez public schools, graduating from Natchez High School in 1949. During her senior year, she married the love of her life, John Wesley “Jake” Middleton Sr. She spent the early years of her marriage at various military bases following her husband on active duty during the Korean War, along with their first born son, John Wesley “Jake” Middleton Jr.

Upon release from active duty, Mrs. Middleton and her husband returned to Natchez to raise a family. She began working at the Natchez Democrat for the Lambert family until the birth of her second son, Thomas William Middleton. At this time, she became a full time mother and gave birth to her third son, Fred Wells Middleton. She remained at home (except for a brief return to the Democrat,) until the death of her husband in 1981. Shortly thereafter, she started a long career with the Natchez public schools working in the libraries of both North Natchez and South Natchez Adams High Schools. She was well respected and loved by both students and staff with her constant smile and willingness to help.

It was also during this time she became a city alderman for Ward Five, filling the unexpired term of her late husband, Jake, who had served the citizens of Ward Five for a number of years prior. She always considered it an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Ward Five as well as the entire city alongside long standing mayor and friend Tony Byrne and long standing aldermen and friends, Al Graning, George West Sr. (and later Artimese West,) Joe Bonner, Jim Gilbert and Hall Wilson.

In addition to serving the citizens of Natchez as alderman, she was a member and officer of the Auburn Garden Club, the Order of the Eastern Star and the Natchez Shriners Ladies Auxiliary. After her retirement from the Natchez public schools, she volunteered for a number of years as a pink lady at Natchez Regional Medical Center and at the office of Jefferson Street United Methodist Church.

She was a loving and devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend who loved God and her family. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Mrs. Middleton was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jake; and one brother, Charles Billy Wells.

Survivors include three sons, John Wesley “Jake” Middleton Jr. and wife, Mitzi, Thomas William “Tom” Middleton and wife, Pam, and Fred Wells Middleton Sr. and wife, Sandy; six grandchildren, Leslie Middleton Davis and husband, Bryan, John Wesley “Wes” Middleton III and wife, Lauren, William Alexander “Alex” Middleton, Thomas Avery Middleton, Lindsey Middleton England and husband, Chase, and Fred Wells Middleton Jr. and wife, Lacey; four great-grandchildren, Ella Wesley Davis, Lucy Claire Davis, John Wesley “Jake” Middleton IV and Adele Katherine Middleton; and two sisters-in-law, Evelyn Wells and Marjorie Middleton.

Pallbearers will be grandsons, Wes Middleton, Alex Middleton, Avery Middleton, Wells Middleton, Bryan Davis and Chase England.

Honorary pallbearers will be city officials she served with, former mayor Tony Byrne and former aldermen, Al Graning, Joe Bonner and Hall Wilson.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Magnolia Village, Promise Hospital, Crown Rehab, Adams County Nursing Home and Merit Health Natchez for all the love and care given in her final years and especially her friend, companion and caregiver, Linda Blanton.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Jefferson Street United Methodist Church Building Fund or to a charity of choice.

Online condolences may be sent to lairdfh.com.