Peggy Jean Hendrick

Peggy Jean Hendrick, 88, a longtime resident of Yorktown, passed away at home on October 21, 2025, after a nearly 6-year-long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Peggy was born April 6, 1937, in Grenada, Mississippi to the late Ruey Rubin and Martha Marie Hitt. Her family moved around Mississippi several times before settling in Clarksdale.  In 1957, while living in Greenville, MS, Peggy met and married Thomas Kenneth Hendrick, a young Airman stationed at Greenville AFB. Over the next 23 years, Ken and Peggy welcomed four sons into their lives and traveled to numerous duty stations in the United States and overseas. Special highlights of their travels together were two assignments at Kadena AB in Okinawa and one at RAF Wethersfield in England. No matter where Ken’s assignments took the family, Peggy always made it the best place to be, with her selfless love and devotion to her husband and four sons. To her sons, she was the best mom ever.

In addition to helping her husband raise four boys, Peggy worked at several military base housing offices over the years in the civil service. First, at RAF Wethersfield, then at Ft. Eustis, and finally at Ft. Monroe, where she retired from civil service in the mid-1990s to devote more time to her grandchildren. In her free time, Peggy loved to swim, read a good book or two, and watch television shows that made her laugh. And she absolutely loved a good cup of coffee. Peggy was a sweet and gentle woman. Even when she was dealing with Alzheimer’s disease the last 6 years of her life, and after her husband Ken passed away in 2024, Peggy kept her sweet demeanor and a smile on her face, knowing that someday she would be reunited with him in Heaven.

Peggy was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 66 years, Thomas Kenneth Hendrick; her parents, Ruey and Marie Hitt; a brother, Jimmy Hitt; a sister, Carolyn Listion; and three precious dogs: two basset hounds, Beethoven and Sammy; and a big beagle, Jenny.

She is survived by four sons: Kenneth D. Hendrick of Yorktown, Jimmy G. Hendrick of Yorktown, Thomas D. Hendrick (Tracy) of Shawboro, NC, and Troyce Hendrick of Yorktown; three grandchildren: Shelley Hendrick (Joey Patterson) of Mocksville, NC, James Hendrick (Megan) of Virginia Beach, and Christopher Hendrick of Atlanta, GA; three great-grandchildren; and her dear sister, Josephine Sims of Covington, TN.

Peggy’s sons would like to thank all the doctors, nurses, and CNAs from Riverside Hospice for the loving care they gave our mother. You made it possible for Mom to live at home until the very end. Special thanks to CNA Ashley, who affectionately called Mom her “Little Ray of Sunshine” when she came over to help get her ready for the day. Mom loved her.

We would also like to thank George Hamann at Claytor Rollins Funeral Home & Crematory. George’s kind words and dedication to his ministry as a funeral home director assured us that our mother was in good hands for her cremation. God bless you, George.

According to her wishes, Peggy’s body was cremated. A celebration of Peggy’s life will take place at her home in the coming days.  If you have a family member suffering from Alzheimer’s, or any other form of dementia, please remember to always be patient, kind, and gentle. Love is the greatest medicine.

You are free of suffering now, Mom. Take care of dad and our hounds and save a place in Heaven for us. We love you.

Arrangements and heartfelt guidance through Claytor Rollins Funeral Home.

Online condolences to claytorrollins.com.

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