Jean Prescott Hammond Peabody

Published 5:50 pm Tuesday, October 1, 2024

April 18, 1932 – Sept. 30, 2024

NATCHEZ – Jean (Jeanie) Prescott Hammond Peabody, 92, of Natchez, and born in Lake Forest, IL, passed away at her residence on Sept. 30, 2024. She was born on April 18, 1932, and was the daughter of Luther Salem Hammond and Ruth Keeley Hammond of Lake Forest, IL. She graduated from Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, CT, and then returned to Lake Forest, where she met her husband, Andrew (Andy) Learned Peabody. They married in 1951 in Bedford, NY. After three years stationed in Long Beach, CA, they moved to Natchez and began raising their family.

Jeanie was an exceptional person who “never met a stranger.” She shared her love of life with everyone she met. She was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church and spent her early years sharing her faith by teaching Sunday School. Also, she was a long-time member of the Natchez Pilgrimage Garden Club which inspired her passion for arranging flowers and spending time in her garden.

At 29, Jeanie began playing tennis and quickly became one of the top-ranked women’s players in Mississippi, with additional Southern and National rankings. As Tennis Coach for Trinity Episcopal Day School for many years, she made a positive impact on all those she coached. She elevated her tennis passion into wheelchair tennis programs, initially intended to support her Goddaughter, and resulted in starting wheelchair tennis programs all over the United States. She and her friend and colleague, Brad Parks, were invited to travel to Japan and help develop the first sports wheelchair, specific to tennis players. She started the Cajun Classic Wheelchair Tennis Tournament in Natchez, and because of its success, the tournament was moved to Baton Rouge, LA, where currently is one of the largest International Tennis Federation Wheelchair Tournaments in the world. She is also credited with starting Collegiate Wheelchair Tennis sports, beginning in Alabama and Michigan, and is now in over 18 colleges and universities.

Jeanie began working with the United States Tennis Association in 1971. She served as Secretary and Treasurer of the Mississippi Tennis Association. Additionally, she was a member of the Ranking Committee for the Mississippi Tennis Association and Southern Tennis Association, Chairperson for the Mississippi Umpires Association, Co-Chairperson for the USTA Education and Research Committee, and served for many years as Chairman of the USTA Wheelchair Tennis Committee. Jeanie received countless awards for her tennis contributions, not only locally, but also from the Southern Tennis Association, and the USTA, and in 1990, she achieved the high honor of being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame for the “Tennis Educational Merit Award for Outstanding Service to Tennis.”  Additionally, one of her proudest moments was being chosen as an “Olympic Flame Bearer,” running a mile through New Orleans with the torch prior to the Atlanta Olympic Games of 1996. She followed the torch to Atlanta where she assisted with the Wheelchair Tennis matches during the Atlanta Paralympics.

Her hobbies seemed endless. She loved everything involving the great outdoors, especially camping, hiking, the mountains, photography, and gardening. Other interests included golfing, sailing, skiing, and cooking. Above all else, she loved spending time with her family.

Amongst Jeanie’s favorite lines to her children was, “You must give back to your community for it has given so much to you.” She gave so much to her community and others, graciously for decades.

Preceding her in death are her parents; her brother, Anthony Hammond, and her daughter-in-law, Rhonda Peabody.

She leaves behind a loving family, including her husband, Andrew; her children, Michael Peabody, Susan Peabody, Ruth Keeley McGrath (Patrick), Julia Potter (Charles), and her five grandchildren, Mackenzie McGrath, Delaney McGrath, Alexandra Potter, Charles Potter, and Prescott Potter.

Jeanie was the kindest, happiest, optimistic, and most beautiful person to the end. She was so loved and will be missed by all.

Funeral Services will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at noon, followed by interment at the Natchez City Cemetery, officiated by Sam Godfrey and Courtney Stacy Taylor.  Visitation will be held at 10:30 a.m. in the Church Parish House until the time of the service.

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church in Natchez, as a tribute to Jeanie’s life and her commitment to her faith in God.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at lairdfh.com.