Claudia Ann Peavy Anderson Obituary

Stoney Point Fire Department Miss Flame 1967, Claudia Ann Peavy Anderson (76) has charmed the crowd for the last time. Mrs. Claudia Ann (Peavy) Anderson, of Winterville, North Carolina, entered into rest at home surrounded by family on 29 August 2026.

Born in Laurinburg, North Carolina in 1949 to Charles Rudolph Peavy and Sadie Skipper Peavy, as the fourth of six children. Claudia attended many primary schools as her family moved with the military, graduating from Hope Mills High School in 1967 before she studied Art and later Early Childhood Education at Pembroke State University (1977), married Glen David Anderson in 1969 and began their family. Her father wrote, “Claudia is not much for housework, but she is smart, loyal, and kind” in a letter to Glen when they got engaged. As a child of their union I can confirm she preferred the paper, a book, or a cup of boxed wine and catching up on Luke and Laura (IYKYK) after work for much of our childhood.

She had a sharp mind and commitment to continually improving childcare and education for all. This translated into meaningful community involvement, professional association leadership through her NAEYC certification team, and mentorship of countless young women through professional development, continuing education, and career readiness programs. She cultivated curiosity, advocacy, and civic engagement both professionally and personally, modeling those values for her family, students, and for the young professionals in her field. After the girls moved out she went on to study Early Childhood Development at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (2002), starting another chapter in her career as Faculty with North Carolina Community Colleges including Bladen and Pitt Counties.

She believed deeply in civic engagement and raised her children to think critically and participate actively in their communities — whether by challenging them to understand every side of an issue or by introducing them, even as children, to the people shaping local government.

While she was committed to civic responsibility and understanding, she was equally devoted to her large, beautifully chaotic family. She stepped into the role of matriarch long before her mother, Sadie, passed — hosting family gatherings, opening her home to shelter numerous relatives, caring for her mother through illness, and serving as an integral anchor for her parents, siblings, nieces, and nephews. As the fourth of six children, she was right in the middle of the chaos, and often the glue that held it all together. She was one of six siblings and leaves behind more than 20 nieces, nephews, children, and grandchildren who love her.

With a brilliant mind and creative soul Claudia held onto her love of art, collected works throughout her travels incorporating her finds into their home, continued to learn new creative skills such as Ukranian Easter Egg painting, filled shelves with books from a range of genres, gathered an eclectic collection of albums for their record player, cassette player, and even a victrola! Her lifelong love of Art, Reading, and Music were passions she shared with and encouraged in her daughters, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Claudia was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Sadie Peavy, her brothers Charles “Chuck” Peavy and Larry (Georgianna) Peavy, sister Sadie Abigail “Gail” Peavy (Ralph) Mason, brother-in-law Charles Carroll, and is survived by her husband of 56 years, Glen Anderson, daughters Kimberley (Carlton) Smith, Heather (Joseph) Markell, and Melissa (David) Nelson, as well as grandchildren Dylan (Rachel) Smith, Alex (Marcia) Gunter, Blaise (Ragan Little) Smith, Gabriel Markell, Sadie Nelson, Mattia Markell, and Elijah Nelson, and great-grandchild Scarlett Smith, sister-in-law Mary Peavy, brother Danny (Rosa) Peavy and sister Wendy Peavy Carroll, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and sisters and brothers of the heart (once you’re in the family, you’re in the family).

Celebration of Life on Friday, September 4, 2026 at 2 PM in the Wilkerson Funeral Chapel in Greenville, North Carolina, and the urn interment will follow at the Mausoleum at Pinewood Memorial Park in Greenville, North Carolina. The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to any of the following charities: American Heart Association [heart.org], American Diabetes Association [American Diabetes Association], or North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation [buildthefoundation.org].