Margaret was born to William Lawrence Peake, Jr and Minnie Edwinna Edwards Peake on May 26, 1937 in Selma, Alabama. She attended Sacred Heart Academy for elementary and Junior High and later Parrish High School in Selma. She transferred to Dothan High School mid-way through the 11th grade and graduated in 1955.
In her younger years, Margaret enjoyed dance, golf, playing with her many animals: Ducky Lucky (a duck), Probate Judge (a rabbit), Vicky (the family's beloved dog), and many family trips to the beach. As the eldest of three children, Margaret frequently babysat her two younger siblings whom she loved dearly: Larry and Patricia. Family legend has it that she was known to her little brother as "Bogget Mother" (Margaret being too hard to say) and that, at age 12, Margaret drove her brother to the hospital after his appendix ruptured.
During high school, Margaret was senior class valedictorian, a member of the National Honor Society, French Honor Society, homecoming court, glee club, and was an American Legion delegate to Girls' State where she was elected as auditor. She and her husband, William Jere Fail, met at a howdy dance. They were later married on November 15, 1958 and remained married for 65 years. They have one daughter, Lisa Fail, and two grandchildren, Kevin Pignone and Kaley Pignone of Durham, North Carolina.
Margaret valued education and after high school, attended Alabama College (Montevallo) where she majored in English and Education and minored in French. During college she was Secretary of the incoming Freshman class, President of the English Club, Editor of the Tower (arts and literary magazine), and a staff member of the Alabamian (student newspaper). Additionally, she was selected as a Montevallo class beauty, and elected to Kappa Delta Pi (Education Honor Society), Pi Delta Phi (French national honor society), Pi Delta Epsilon (national journalism society), and Orchesis (a modern dance honor society), as well as a member of the French Club and the Debate Team. She graduated from Montevallo in 1960 with honors.
After college, Margaret taught high school and later found her passion teaching middle school. During her professional career as a teacher, she taught English and French, and later taught teachers as a resource teacher and computer specialist for the Orange County Public Schools. She later earned two Masters of Science degrees while working full time. She taught more than 10,000 students, many of whom she stayed in contact with. She was the Robinswood Middle School yearbook sponsor for many years and was honored to have the 1979 yearbook dedicated to her. Margaret frequently ran into former students around Orlando at the bank, grocery store, or restaurants and couldn't wait to exchange hugs and hear all about life since middle school. On teacher workdays, teens gathered in her classroom sharing their concerns, and asking for advice.
Outside the classroom, Margaret enjoyed playing bridge and teaching others to play. She taught a beginner's bridge class at the Winter Park University Club. She continued her regular bridge game until her eyesight failed and made it too difficult to play. Besides bridge, Margaret enjoyed traveling. She and her husband, Jere, traveled throughout Europe, Australia and New Zealand, North America, and Latin America with friends and family.
Margaret, who never met a stranger, participated in numerous civic and social clubs in Orlando and Winter Park including Daughters of the American Revolution, Winter Park University Club, Junior Sorosis of Orlando, the Pine Castle Woman's Club, the Woman's Club of Winter Park, and the Pine Castle Tea Room. She was also a class Mom and a Brownie Scout Leader. Margaret was instantly recognizable in the 1970's speeding along, her light blue Volkswagen Beetle filled to capacity with kids or friends.
Margaret and Jere moved to Baldwin Park in 2017, where she embraced the opportunity to make new friends and organize numerous parties, trips, and events as the Social Chairman. She took pride in welcoming new neighbors and friends into the vibrant social life at Baldwin Park.
Margaret battled numerous physical ailments tirelessly. She never gave up despite overwhelming odds and was determined to see her grandchildren graduate and enroll in Graduate School and college. We will remember Margaret for her enduring love for family, friends, her passion for her profession and students, and her tenacity and cheerful heart. She is survived by husband, William Jere Fail of Orlando FL; daughter, Lisa Fail of Durham NC; son-in-law, Michael Pignone of Durham NC; grandchildren Kevin and Kaley Pignone of Durham NC; sister, Patricia Peake Bitowf of Atlanta GA and brother, William Lawrence Peake III of Columbus NC.
A celebration of Margaret's life will be held on October 13, 2023 at 11:00 at First Presbyterian Church Orlando FL in the chapel.