Robbie R. Peay

ROBBIE RAY PEAY was born on May 14, 1929, in Blair, South Carolina to the late Robert and Estelle (Peoples) Peay. She departed this life on February 19, 2025, after a lengthy illness. Robbie obtained her education at the Gethsemane School in Blair South Carolina. At an early age she left her hometown to find a new life in Baltimore City. She moved in with her aunt and uncle, Mary and Anthony Thompson, Sr. and remained with them for most of her adult life. Robbie accepted Christ at an early age and joined the Gethsemane Baptist Church in Blair, South Carolina. When she moved to Baltimore, she joined the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church as one of the original members. She remained there for over 60 years. Robbie later followed her family and joined the Upper Room Worship Center in Parkville, Maryland. She remained an active member at the Upper Room Worship Center until illness prevented her from attending. Robbie’s first entrance to employment was with Sinai Hospital as a food service worker. She remained at that job for a while but knew she wanted to do something else. She took interest in cosmetology after visiting her Aunt Loretta Twiggs who was well-known cosmetologist in New York City. When she returned to Baltimore, she immediately went to cosmetology school and earned her license as a senior cosmetologist. Shortly after earning her license, she took a job at Cosmos Beauty Salon under the supervision of Hazel Adams who later became her very close friend. Robbie was excellent at pressing and curling hair. It was said by many that if Robbie pressed and curled your hair, it stayed that way for days. She perfected her skills when her customers began requesting perms. Her customers knew that their hair would be as straight as possible. Even though she enjoyed cosmetology, she felt like she needed a better and more secure job. She continued her career as a cosmetologist and when the opportunity presented itself, she took a job as an assembly worker in the quality assurance lab of Westinghouse Electric Corporation. Robbie remained at Westinghouse until she retired. There, she worked five days a week and continued to do hair on the weekends. Robbie was a very private person but the things she enjoyed were special to her. She was a lover of big, beautiful hats and colorful scarfs. She loved traveling with her aunt and uncle on road trips back to her hometown, Blair, South Carolina. Once she retired, she joined the Oliver Senior Center and became a regular participant. She spent much of her time in her room listening to her Gospel CDs and watching Old Time Gospel videos. Robbie had a collection of Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson sermons and music that she enjoyed every day. One thing Robbie will always be legendary for is making the best Macaroni and Cheese ever made. During every family or friend’s celebration, the first thing people asked for was Robbie’s macaroni and cheese. That gave her great pride and joy. She is preceded in death by her two sisters, Catherine H. Peay and Mary E. Lyles. She leaves to cherish her memory: her goddaughter/cousin, Patricia Jackson; cousin and caregiver, Eunice James; cousins, Annette McQueen and Larry Thompson, Sr. (Mattie); niece, Rita Jones; nephews, James Edward Lyles and Michael Lyles; several great-nieces, great-nephews; and her longtime friends, Barbara Ann Hazzard, Ernestine Chalk and Sally Roberts.

Tributes

Robbie R. Peay

May 14, 1929 - February 19, 2025