Reather Marion Peele Hathaway

The Life of Reather Jean Peele Hathaway Reather Jean Peele Hathaway was born June 16, 1924 as the second oldest daughter of the late Ned and Fannie Peele in George, North Carolina. She was a graduate of W. S. Creecy High School and furthered her education at Elizabeth City State Teachers’ College now Elizabeth City State University and later graduated with honors from Virginia Union University. She then furthered her education at Virginia Commonwealth University. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. J. Wallace Hathaway; grandson, Randy Hathaway; four brothers; Robert, Walter, Charlie and Richard Peele; two sisters, Catherine Grant and Althea Wilkins, five brothers-in-law, George Malloy, Titus Grant, Thomas Wilkins, William Hathaway; Rev. Anthony Hathaway; six sisters-in law, Cora Peele, Jewel Peele, Cornelia Peele , Martha Hathaway, Etta Mae Hathaway and Mary Hathaway. She met and married the late Rev. J. Wallace Hathaway and from that union four devoted children were born: Arletha Diane Stokes (Charles); Rev. Milton A. Hathaway (Dr. Sylvia); Harold Alan; and Dr. Marcia Munford (Roger); special son Wallace Earl Banks; 10 grandchildren: Lakeisha Lee (Eric), Lisa Hathaway, Rodney Hathaway (Tamika), E. Danielle Musgrove, April Pleasants (Shawn), Rev. Michael B. Hathaway (Rev. Danielle), Charles Stokes, III; Dr. Rene Stokes (Kakwa McClain); Angela Hathaway and Monte’ Hathaway; 19 great-grandchildren: Michael, Malcolm, Ericka, Emanuel, Diana, Jordan, Joshua, Julia, Jamison, Jarred, Alyvia Hathaway; Erica, Elyssa and Edelia Lee; Brandon and Ja’Don Pleasants; Kamari and Christopher Stokes and D’andre Waterson; one sister: Katie Malloy of Greensboro, North Carolina; one sister-in-law Daisy Peele of Portsmouth, Virginia; one brother-in-law, Charlie A. Hathaway of Baltimore, Maryland. Many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. She stressed the importance of education to her family and to all youth and young adults she interacted with. She taught in the following public and private schools: Cale Street Preparatory School, Elizabeth City North Carolina; H. L. Trigg Elementary School, Elizabeth City, North Carolina; Shawtown Elementary School, Lillington, North Carolina; Brick Church Elementary, Amelia, Virginia; Russell Grove Hill School, Amelia, Virginia; East End Elementary School, Hanover, Virginia, Battlefield Park Elementary School, Hanover, Virginia where she retired. After retirement, she continued to teach at Richmond Preparatory Academy and various elementary schools within Richmond Public Schools System. Even most recently, when her children would see some of her former students, they would always talk about their favorite 4th grade teacher “Mrs. Hathaway” and would passionately say “She was tough, showed a lot of love and cared that we always did our best”. She was a devoted member of the Grayland Baptist Church for forty-six years. She loved her pastor and the Grayland Baptist Church family. She faithfully served as a former first lady, church school superintendent, director of Christian education, Deaconess and Mother of the Church. When controversies or confusion would arise, her first words were “Well, have you prayed about it and since you haven’t …LET’S PRAY”. She has maintained membership in the Hanover Retired Teachers’ Association and the joy of her life the International Association of Ministers’ Wives and Widows, Northeast Region Ministers’ Wives and Ministers’ Widows , Virginia State Ministers’ Wives & Ministers’ Widows Association, and the Ministers’ Wives and Widows Fellowship of Richmond & Vicinity. Until her health began to fail she had only missed one International meeting in thirty eight years and never missed a State meeting. She served faithfully as a local level president, chaired many committees most recently served as membership chair. For over forty years she served as chair or co-chair for the State MWMW “Ailene B. Godwin Retreat”. On the International level she served for many years as historian. In recognition of dedicated service, in 2007 she was inducted into the International Ministers’ Wives and Widows Hall of Fame. If there is one thing to be remembered about Mrs. Reather P. Hathaway that would be that she LOVED WITH NO LIMITS – She loved God, her church, her family and her friends unconditionally. Her legacy will live on.

Tributes

Reather Marion Peele Hathaway

June 16, 1924 - April 19, 2012