Peggy Jean Crittenden Gillespie passed away on Thursday, December 28, 2017, in Hammond, Louisiana, at the age of 78.  She was born on Saturday, December 31, 1938 in New Orleans , Louisiana to the late Lelia Havis Crittenden and the late Johnnie "Buddy" Cittenden.  She was a resident of Ponchatoula, Louisiana.

Peggy is survived by her children, Yvonne Stokes and her husband Gordon, Toni Murry and her husband John, Jimmie Lynn Harrell, Kelly Simmons and his wife Letty, and Mitchell Simmons and his wife Lisa; sister, Carolyn Rushing and her husband Mike; grandchildren, Joe Stokes and his wife Samantha, Joshua Murry, Thomas Harrell, Lillian Jeffcoat, Jeremie Simmons, Jacob Simmons, Jessica Jackson, Kiefer Thicke, and Kim Thicke; great-grandchildren, Chloe, Gracie, and Lane Stokes, Cass Anthony, Brantley Simmons, and Margo Champagne.

She was preceded in death by her father, Johnnie "Buddy" Cittenden; mother, Lelia Havis Crittenden; husband, James C. Gillespie; three brothers, Clayton McMichael, John McMichael, and Jack Crittenden; two sisters, Ruth McMichael, Sally Chesnutt; and two grandchildren, Dennis Jackson and Christa Champange.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation at Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home, Ponchatoula, 100 W. Magnolia St., Ponchatoula, Louisiana 70454, on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 from 9:00 am until the Celebration of Life Service at 11:00 am.  

To view and sign the family guest book, please visit www.harrymckneely.com.