Peggy Needham (Mrs. Frank) Heinsohn

Peggy Needham Heinsohn, 85, recently of Folly Beach, SC, widow of Frank Heinsohn, Jr., D.D.S. entered into eternal rest Tuesday, August 21, 2018. Her Funeral Service will be held Sunday, August 26, 2018 in St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, 405 King Street at 1:00 p.m. Interment, Bethany Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday in J. HENRY STUHR, INC. DOWNTOWN CHAPEL, 232 Calhoun Street, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Peggy was born on Mother's Day May 10th, 1933 in Wilmington, NC, and was the daughter of the late Clyde and Claudia (Ipock) Needham. She later moved to Brice's Creek to a fish camp her parents ran, and attended New Bern High School, where she was valedictorian of her class and received a full scholarship to attend college; she went on to graduate from the UNC School of Nursing. At both institutions, she played percussion in the marching and symphonic bands. She met her future husband Frank in the UNC band, when he audaciously laughed at her band uniform. She taught and practiced Psychiatric Nursing in NC, and later in MA (while they were stationed at Ft. Devens). Peggy raised her family in Charleston, SC. She was a retired registered nurse, and served as the Office Manager for her husband's dental practice for more than 20 years. She was a faithful member of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church and a Master Consulting Rosarian for the American Rose Society. For many years, she led rose garden tours throughout Europe and exhibited roses at shows and gave lectures closer to home. She was a renowned seafood cook and loved the outdoors-fishing, shrimping, hunting, and gardening. She loved boating with her dad on Brice's Creek, and later with her Frank on the Folly River or the Intracoastal Waterway. She was an avid bird watcher and animal lover, and owned many dogs (primarily springer spaniels) and cats through the years.

Peggy set a wonderful example of faith in her daily devotion to God and her commitment to over 5 decades of marriage. Her loving legacy lives on in her three children, Dr. Kathy Heinsohn (friend Dr. Walt Bell) of Brunswick, MD, Melisa H. Vinci (Marty) of Bluffton, SC, and Frank Heinsohn (Joan) of Patuxent River, MD; a foster daughter, Judy Pierce DuPont; 8 grandchildren- Meredith Johnson, Christine (Spencer) Willis, AJ Johnson, Martin (Jen) Vinci, Katie (James) McGee, Sophie Heinsohn, dalas verdugo, and Stacey (Lee) Coleman; many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and "adopted daughters and sons" around the world who sat at her table and needed a listening ear. She is also survived by her beloved cat Snoofy.
For her 85th birthday in May, Peggy realized her life-long dream of having her family with her on a Rhine River cruise. She was the belle of the ship and greeted warmly by all.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lutheran World Relief Disaster Response ( or (800) 597-5972).