WS Chronicle

For 17 years, she wrote Sunday school lesson for The Chronicle

BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY

THE CHRONICLE

The beloved Mildred S. Peppers passed away last Monday, Nov. 7 as she lost her latest battle with cancer.

Peppers wrote the Sunday School Lesson for The Chronicle for 17 years.  She retired from her position in Oct. 2015 to the chagrin of many readers.

Peppers graduated from Winston-Salem State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in history. While there, she pledged Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, where she affectionately became known as “Skinner.”  Peppers later met Ronnie “Pepp” Pepper and their Peppers love story soon began.

The couple’s union produced “The Girls,” Frances Valencia, Blanche Yvonne and Joneice Conchetta.

“She not only is a role model for my sisters and I but she is a role model to her church and her community,” Joneice stated to The Chronicle when speaking of her mother.

Peppers dedicated her life to educating youth by serving as a teacher in the Hickory and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school systems.  In 2001, Peppers retired after 29 years of service.

Peppers was a faithful member of Emmanuel Baptist Church for 40 years.  She was a Deacon, Deaconess, Sunday school teacher, missionary and new members class and Vacation Bible school teacher.  She was a member of numerous other church ministries. Two ministries that were especially dear to her heart were Kemet and Ujima.  She had the gift of teaching not only in the church but with her lessons in The Chronicle as well.

“When I came to The Chronicle in November 2014, there was no religion column. I found out Mrs. Peppers was ill. After a while, she came back and I was able to work with her through telephone and email. She was great to work with and even assessed her latest illness in a way to allow us to find another person to write the column. She worked with us and helped us find her replacement. She was an icon in the community. People were distraught when they found out she would not be writing the column anymore. We miss her dearly,” said Donna Rogers, Managing Editor at The Chronicle.

The funeral service was a lovely tribute to Peppers. Reflections were given from the church and family members who spoke most fondly of her. The Rev. Dr. John Mendez, pastor of Emmanuel, delivered the eulogy.  Mendez spoke about the lives that Peppers touched over the years. He spoke about her infectious sense of humor and said “the reality is that Mildred preached her own eulogy” by living such a fruitful and God-loving life.

Peppers was a beloved woman by everyone she came into contact with and her Sunday School Lessons in The Chronicle were not only insightful but also inspired others to touch on similar topics for their lessons.

“We have missed Mrs. Peppers’ Sunday School Column for a while now,” said Ernie Pitt, editor emeritus at The Chronicle. “I am certainly saddened by her passing. However, I know firsthand that she was a woman of God. She was a true believer and worked to deliver a lot of lessons to other Sunday school teachers through her column. Godspeed, Mrs. Peppers. We will all see you in the by and by. Peace be unto the family and her many friends … including The Chronicle.”