Margaret “Peggy” Louise (Grahame) Hays

Hays

Margaret “Peggy” Louise (Grahame) Hays, 79, Newport, wife of the late Robert Burl Hays for 56 years, passed away Saturday, April 25, 2026, at her daughter’s home surrounded by her family. Born in Cumberland, MD on June 16, 1946, she was the daughter of the late Henry and Hazel Grahame.

Peggy worked at Ben Franklin, Newport IGA, Peoples News and Richardson Printing. She enjoyed gardening, working in flower beds, working on the family farm and loved weed-eating. She was a member of the Newport Baptist Church and volunteered at the Newport Food Pantry. When her children were young, she spent a lot of time cooking and helping to run the concession stands for Frontier Athletic Boosters.

She lived a life marked by compassion, strength and deep devotion to her family. Peggy was the proud and loving mother of three children, Melissa (Mark) Dulaney, Richard (Tara) Hays and Rusty Hays. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the light of her life. She loved to dance and spend as much time as she could with them. She had eight granddaughters, Brooke (Brian) and Jordin Romick, Chelsea (Jay) Eddy, Erica and Lacey Hays, Daralyn (Justin) Quincie and Hennesy Dulaney; and nine great-grandchildren, Slayton, Emerie, Nora, Rowan, Ayla, Holden, Camdyn, Bayley and Hadley.

She is also survived by her sister Charlotte (Rick) Carpenter, and her sisters-in-law Theresa Griffin and Rebecca (Jack) Strickler and numerous nieces and nephews that she loved.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, one brother Henry Thomas Grahame and five sisters, Emma Jane Ogle, Donna Ross, Genevieve Smith, Loudella Bower and Linda Arnold, and a great-granddaughter Brynlee.

Her selflessness, warmth, and generous spirit will be remembered forever. She leaves behind a legacy of love, strength and compassion that lives on in all of us.

Services will be held at 6:00 PM on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at Ingram Funeral Home in St Mary’s WV, with Pastor Rick Carpenter officiating. Visitation will be from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the funeral home prior to the service. An online guest register is available at www.ingramfh.com.