2014 EVE awards ; Outstanding women honored LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT PEGGY BRYAN Arborist wants to show that people ‘matter’
By Sandy Strickland | |
Proquest LLC |
The Times-Union has been recognizing the outstanding women of
Just call her Tree Mama.
And
For her 60th birthday, her husband,
At one point, she had her own tree nursery.
"I'm a nut about trees," said Bryan, who's been the designated "landscaper" for the many community boards she's served on.
Bryan is especially proud of the Gateway garden. Her late father,
"It was so barren, so ugly and so noisy right off
"The place was just depressing," said
Bryan, who enjoys pruning the garden, said mothers now have a tree-lined walkway to stroll their babies.
"It says you matter," Bryan said.
Not only has she improved the city's landscape, but she also has a long list of volunteer achievements. She's a past president of Learn to Read, Leadership Jacksonville,
For her accomplishments, she received the Times-Union's EVE Lifetime Achievement Award named for Arnolta Johnston "Mama" Williams.'STAY COMMITTED'
Bryan was born in
"When you believe in something, you have to help fund it," Bryan said. "He encouraged me to become involved when I didn't think I had the talent. You just have to commit and stay committed."
Bryan's family had a dairy farm in
At their home, the Bryans put in 130 trees. There are oaks, hollies, crape myrtles, bald cypresses, magnolias and hedges. They do their own mowing and pruning.
"We just love it," she said. "It's time well spent."
Bryan said she's often asked why she works with PACE, an alternative school for at-risk girls, when she has sons (Jeff, Cotton and Josh). The answer is easy, she said.
"It's one of the most significantly effective nonprofits, a combination of counseling and academics, that really helps the girls redefine their lives and go the right way," said Bryan, who got involved 26 years ago. "It's tough love in the best way. When I first joined the board, it's because I believed in what they were doing. PACE has made a significant difference in
That's also why she mentors on Friday afternoons at
Bryan and her cousin,
Often, the Bryans' charitable work overlaps. For example, she has donated trees to LISC Jacksonville, a nonprofit on which her husband serves as board chairman. Its goal is to help community development corporations transform core neighborhoods, be it through building or remodeling homes, soccer fields, day care or light industry, she said.
She and J.F., a retired insurance executive, also helped establish the Meninak Club Youth Leadership Jacksonville's
The modest Bryan said they are just people wanting to make a difference.
"There's real satisfaction in being part of programs or projects that make
Community activist
"Even after five minutes of talking with her, you know you have met a remarkably wonderful person," Lane said. "She's a good, wise mother, daughter, friend and citizen. She's also got a great sense of humor and is a lot of fun."
Aside from community activities, Bryan loves to knit, do needlepoint and read. The couple has a house in
But there are still things to be done in the community. Her sights are set on working with the Late Bloomers to spruce up a core area of downtown.
"Peggy has done so many things through the years, and she always keeps such a low profile," Ketchum said. "She never wants credit. It just seems like it was overdue to say, 'Thank you, Peggy, well done.' "
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