Margaret "Peggy" Umstead Cobb, 63, of Chapel Hill, passed away at her home on May 11, 2009. She was born on November 1, 1945 in Platteville, WI to the late Margaret "Peggy" Burris Umstead and Frank Graham Umstead, both of whom resided in Chapel Hill most of their lives. Peggy was the eldest of the Umstead's three children. Following graduation from Chapel Hill High School in 1963, Peggy attended Peace College in Raleigh. While there, she met and married James Heys Cobb, III, and later moved to Columbus, OH, Selma, AL, and other cities near Air Force bases where Jim was stationed as a pilot. They settled in Griffin, GA, and lived there for several years, during which time Peggy gave birth to their daughter, Susannah. In 1978, Peggy returned to Chapel Hill with Susannah, where Peggy managed the Chapel Hill Tennis Club and was an avid tennis player. She eventually opened a travel agency, Travel Associates of Chapel Hill, which she ran until retiring from the business in 1998. In recent years, she dedicated time to preparing and delivering meals for families staying at The Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill. Peggy was passionate about cooking, politics, and the histories of her family and the state of North Carolina. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and friend. Peggy is survived by her daughter, Susannah Cobb Parker and husband, Chris, of Atlanta, GA; brother, John Wesley Umstead, IV, and wife, Toni, of Raleigh; sister, Helen Reade Umstead, of Chapel Hill; two grandchildren, James Heys Parker; and Elizabeth Umstead Parker, of Atlanta, GA; two neices, Devon Umstead Brewer and husband, Clate, of Raleigh; and Chloe Graham Umstead, of Raleigh; and nephew, John Wesley Umstead, V, of Chapel Hill. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 15, 2009 at the Old Chapel Hill Cemetery, with the Reverend Carl King of the University United Methodist Church of Chapel Hill officiating. A reception at The Carolina Inn will be held immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in memory of Margaret "Peggy" Umstead Cobb to The Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill, 101 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, (919) 913-2040 or The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, 386 Park Avenue South, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10016 (800) 932-2423. Funeral arrangements are by Walker's Funeral Home, Chapel Hill, NC.
Published in The News & Observer on 5/14/2009