Shawnee Music Educator Peggy Horton died peacefully on September 19, 2021 in Owasso, Oklahoma. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Immanuel Baptist Church in Shawnee on Saturday, April 23, 2022 at 10:00am.
Mrs. Horton was born in Lancaster, South Carolina on March 24, 1935, the daughter of Nadie Williams Small and Robert Lee Small. She married Dr. William Lamar Horton of Rock Hill, South Carolina in June l956. She attended schools and universities , including Anderson University, Anderson, S.C.; Furman University, Greenville, S.C. (BM in Music-Performance with Honors); University of Louisville, Louisville, Ky.(Certification in Elem. Ed.); Ouachita University, Arkadelphia, Ark. (Masters in Music Ed. summa cum laude). Mrs. Horton was an elementary teacher in Louisville for five years, instructor of music at Ouachita University for five years, and professor of music at Oklahoma Baptist University (1968-1999). She was highly involved in church music from age fourteen and throughout her career, serving as pianist, organist, soloist, choir director, children’s music and art director. In Shawnee, she served at First Christian, Central Presbyterian, and Emmanuel Episcopal churches and also sang in University Baptist Church, First Baptist Church and Immanuel Baptist Church Choirs in Shawnee and First Baptist Church in Owasso, Oklahoma. Mrs. Horton was also involved in civic and music organizations including National Assoc. of Singing, Oklahoma Teachers of Singing, Southern Chapter NATS, National Federation of Music Clubs, Oklahoma Music Teachers Association, American Kodaly Association, American Orff-Schulwerk Association, Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary and Mabee-Gerrer Museum Volunteer. Mrs. Horton was honored in Outstanding Educators of America, Who’s Who in the South and Southwest, Who’s Who in American Education; Who’s Who of American Women.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. William Lamar Horton, her infant son, Phillip Patrick Horton, her oldest son, Richard Lamar Horton, her parents and her sisters, Tina Woodward and Jean Wolman. She is survived by three loving children and their families–Ronald and Dr. Theresa Horton, Owasso, OK.; Randall and Tracy Sutton Horton, Brandon, FL.; and Julie-Anne and Kenton Selvey, Charleston, SC; eight grandchildren which she adored–Conor Horton, Jack Horton, and James Horton, Owasso, OK and Alice Ann Horton, Chicago, IL; Carter Horton and Hadley Horton, Brandon, FL; Roan Selvey and Greyson Selvey, Charleston, SC., plus many other dear relatives and friends.
Memorials can be made to Horton Voice Scholarship, OBU, 500 West University, Shawnee, Ok. 74804 or Horton Music Scholarship, Planned Giving, Furman University, 3300 Poinsett Highway, Greenville, S.C. 29613.
