Velma Ernestine McPeak Boyd, well known as half of the McPeak twins, age 97, of Sparta, passed away Aug. 18, 2024, at Life Care Center of Sparta.
Ernestine was born July 16, 1927, in the Hickory Valley community, of White County, to John Christopher “J.C.” and Stella Davis McPeak. She was a retired shirt factory worker. She loved collecting salt and pepper shakers and had amassed a collection of over 14,000 sets in her years of collecting. Along with her late twin sister, Laurine, she was a fixture in Crossville for Saturday night auctions and loved attending yard sales in her hunt for her salt and pepper collection. She loved work; no job was ever too big for her to try and accomplish. Her evenings were spent watching and listening to sports, while her Sunday afternoons were dedicated to cooking Sunday dinner for her family.
In addition to her parents and Laurine, she was preceded in death by her brother, J.B. McPeak, and sisters, Clata Dell Horton and Mattie Cruise.
Survivors include her daughter, Gail (Dale) Blankenship; son, Steve (Debra) Boyd; granddaughter, Stephanie (Carl) Boynton; and great-granddaughter, Ella Boynton.
Graveside service was 1 p.m., Aug. 21, 2024, at Bransford Davis Cemetery, located behind Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.
Hunter Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
