Daughter of James and Mary (McNutt) Peck, second wife of Rev. S.D. Long.

Josephine Peck Long, the daughter of Col. and Mrs. James B. Peck, was born at Pearisburg, Virginia, July 21, 1873. As a girl she attended the local school and later entered Martha Washington College, Abingdon, Virginia, where she graduated. In 1899 she was united in marriage with Dr. S. D. Long. Dr. Long, a distinguished minister and educator of Holston Conference, was serving as Presiding Elder of the Radford District at the time of the marriage. Sometime later the couple moved to the Knoxville District where they lived until 1905.

Dr. Long was appointed president of Martha Washington College at Abingdon, Virginia. Abingdon remained their home for over seventeen years. In 1920 the school was merged with Emory and Henry College and Dr. Long served as Vice-President of the combined schools until 1922. Dr. and Mrs. Long served the Church in the Chattanooga (1922- 25), the Bluefield (1925-29) and the Tazewell (1929-33) Districts. Dr. Long's last appointment was pastor to the Methodist congregation at Wise, Virginia, but due to failing health he was unable to complete the year, and his long and illustrious life ended there.

Mrs. Long, now a widow, went to Bristol, Virginia, to make her home with her only child, Mrs. Sam T. Bowman. Mr. Bowman was the Commissioner of Revenue for the City of Bristol, Virginia, and Mrs. Bowman provided tender and loving care for her for over twenty years. During her latter years Mrs. Long was an invalid, but throughout her suffering she remained a cheerful person, sustained by her faith and trust in God.

With her husband she had filled her place of responsibility in His Kingdom well, and she loved to relate her happy memories of parsonage and college life with him. Death came to her on the morning of the 31st of May 1956, just as the Annual Conference year ended.

The State Street Methodist Congregation, of which she was a member, had just completed its beautiful new Church in the Spring Garden area of Bristol, so her remains were the first to be brought into the new Chapel for funeral. Her pastors, the Rev. H. Olin Troy and the Rev W. C. Mason, Jr., conducted the funeral service. Her body was placed to rest in the Mountain View Cemetery at Bristol beside that of her husband. Her memory will linger long in the hearts of those who loved her and appreciated her many excellent virtues as the devoted companion of a minister, and college president in our Holston Conference.

Submitted By: H. Olin Troy - Holston Conference Journal – 1956 – Pages: 231 - 232