FLORIDA, March 29 – Margaret Louvise Black Mathias (“Peggy”), born on “The Farm” in Fluvanna County on October 21, 1918 to Howard and Huldah Black, started school in a one-room schoolhouse and finished with a Bachelor's degree from Virginia State College for Women (now Longwood). She was transplanted (via Onancock and Dillwyn) to Tavares, Florida in 1953 and in 2001 moved to Jacksonville, where she lived at The Atrium until her death on Saturday, March 24, 2012.

Her career after teaching for two years was that of wife and mother and volunteer. She was a long-time member of First United Methodist Church of Tavares, where she sang in the choir for 40 years and held many church leadership positions.

She will be greatly missed and so fondly remembered by the family she leaves behind, daughter, Gayle Mathias Reid, (“Bill”); sons, Robert Stuart Mathias and Howard Wade Mathias (Barbara); grandchildren, Robin Mathias, Adam Mathias, Jenni Smith (Paul), Kristin Wehmeyer and Tyson Wehmeyer; sisters-in-law, Alice Black, Marge Black Maxey and Helen Miles; nieces and nephews, Fred and Caroline Black, Jo and Kim Penland, Steve and Judi Gibb, Barbie, Kim and Sammie Miles and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Robert W. Mathias (“Bob”), youngest son, Philip Eugene Mathias, two brothers, Howard Gordon Black Jr. and Cecil A. Black, sister-in-law, Alice Walker, nephew, Joseph Cecil Black, niece, Joyce Gibb Rose, and daughter-in-law, Joyce Mathias.

She was the accepted and much loved matriarch of both sides of her family and will be missed by all. Her favorite charities were both of her churches (Tavares UMC and St. Paul UMC), Wesley's Chapel Cemetery Fund, and helping to feed hungry children. Memorial services will be held Monday, April 2 at 2:30 p.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church, Jacksonville, FL with interment on Wednesday, April 4, at 2 p.m. at Wesley's Chapel in Fluvanna County. The family will greet friends after the graveside service at Wesley's Chapel.

Arrangements are being handled by Thacker Brothers Funeral Home, Scottsville.