Virginia Ernestine Mayhew Peckham, Chilmark native, died September 16, 2016 in Westerly, Rhode Island. Her son, Tom Peckham, was holding her hand. This past June, she celebrated her 1OOth birthday with her children, grandchildren, and great grandson at the Peckham family home in Pawcatuck, Connecticut.
Our mother, Ernestine, was born on June 18th, 1916, in Chilmark. She spent her childhood with her parents, Benjamin Carlton Mayhew and Carrie Virginia Flanders Mayhew, and her brother, Benjamin Carlton Mayhew, Jr., at their home on Nashaquitsa Pond in Chilmark.
Ernestine completed her primary education at the Chilmark School, then a one-room schoolhouse. She commented about her teacher Miss Reed, “I don’t know how she did it, with all those grades in one room, but she did.”
Ernestine shared happy memories of her family. She told stories of playing cards in the evenings with her parents and her brother Ben. Although Ben was seven years older, they were good friends, she said. Ernestine loved spending time with her mother gardening, picking berries, and making pies. Together, they attended the Chilmark church, participated in activities at the Grange, and enjoyed the island Girl Scout community . Her mother passed away when Ernestine was only twenty, and later her father and brother Ben; losses she carried over the years.
Ernestine met Arthur Ellsworth Peckham Jr. while in college at Rhode Island State, where she majored in home economics, was a member of the Chi Omega sorority, participated in drama, sports and glee clubs, and earned her degree in 1939. Ernestine and Arthur were married on July 9th, 1941. During WWII, while Arthur served as a Navy officer, Ernestine supported the war effort herself. She inspected airplane propellers for Davis-Standard in Pawcatuck, CT. When Arthur returned, they built a small house, established Long Look Turkey Farm in Pawcatuck, CT, and started their family. In later years, as Arthur pursued a long corporate career, Ernestine made happy homes for her family across several states. They raised four children, Thomas, Virginia, Deborah, and Prudence, and lived in homes in Florida and the Midwest, until returning to Massachusetts, the Vineyard, and Pawcatuck, CT. With their family, Arthur and Ernestine mourned the loss of their daughter Virginia Welch in 2002. Arthur passed away at home in 2006.
Ernestine enjoyed music and loved to sing. Her soprano, and Arthur’s bass voices complemented one another at church and at home. Ernestine also enjoyed sewing and knitting. She made dresses, sweaters and mittens for her children, granddaughters, and Arthur. When an accident with a table saw left Arthur’s thumb with limited movement and poor circulation. Ernestine knit a thumb mitten for him to wear under his work gloves when he was fishing. Ernestine enjoyed painting, for many years painted alone and with friends in painting groups. She loved the natural world, and painted flowers, birds, and landscapes. Ernestine’s painting of the view from their home on Quitsa Pond hung on the wall of every home the family lived in, and graced the wall over her bed when she passed away.
Arthur and Ernestine were avid golfers and played often together. Indicative of her humble yet determined attitude, Ernestine was never quite satisfied with her golf skills. In her late 80’s she said to her daughter Debbi, “If I don’t get better soon, I’m going to quit this game.”
Ernestine went by many names from those who loved her. She was Mom, Ernie, Grandma, Grammy, Great-Grammy, Aunt Ernestine, and friend.
Ernestine leaves her son, Thomas Peckham of Pawcatuck, CT, daughter Deborah Peckham of The Villages, FL, daughter Prudence Marsh and her husband Elliott Marsh of Ashfield, MA, son in-law Frank Welch of Vineyard Haven, MA, husband of daughter Virginia, granddaughters Carrie Welch of Vineyard Haven MA, Katherine Welch of Amherst MA, Alexandra Moncy, her husband William Moncy and their son Arlen Moncy of Pittsfield MA, and Samantha Marsh of Amherst MA.
A graveside service will be held at Abel’s Hill Cemetery in Chilmark on October 15, 2016, at 2PM, officiated by Reverend Roberta Williams. Refreshments will follow at Trinity Worship Center, at the Methodist Campground, Oak Bluffs.
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