Elaine Peacock
( – 2019)

 

As remembered by Curtis (Hayes) Muhammad
October 1, 2019

Dear Friends and comrades and particular the SNCC family,

Elaine Peacock, wife of Wazir (Willie Peacock) passed on Sunday night, September 29, 2019. She was sorrounded by friends and her son Pollo. Those present said that it was a very spiritual and peaceful transition.

Elaine had been fighting Cancer for months after surgery, chemo and radiation. She died at home per her request. She was well loved and was cared for by a parade of friends that showed up on a daily basis.

There will be a follow up message when the memorial has been planed.

Elaine was one of the high school canvassers who worked with SNCC organizers in Hattisburg, Mississipp. She graduated from Tougaloo College and did her graduate work at UC Berkly. Most of her professional life was spent as a foundation administrator developing grants for community health projects in California. She and Wazir had two boys Silas (who passed about 10 years ago) and Pollo. Elaine was one of the founders and board member of the Ella Baker Organizing Fund Inc. A foundation established to provide funds for organizers working in poor black and brown communities.

 

As remembered by Mike Miller
October 1, 2019

Elaine

Elaine Peacock died.

Elaine was a good friend.

I didn't know Elaine very well.

Both things are true.

Elaine grew up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and graduated from Tougaloo. She was a long time ago the wife of Wazir Peacock, SNCC's Greenwood, Mississippi Project co-director when I worked there in 1963. She was a Movement person too.

We had lunch some time in the 1980s or 90s. She was working in a health program connected with the University of California Medical School. I don't remember why, but she made strong impression.

Her son died. I went to the gathering at her home to mourn with her. That might have been 20 years ago. Then for some reason I reached out to her and we had another lunch.

She came to my 80th birthday party, and when I saw her was surprised that I remembered her name.

She's not someone you would forget.

Then dinner. Then a number of other times we got together. She came to a dinner party that Kathy and I had at my place in San Francisco.

She was beautiful.
She was smart.
She was strong.
She was gentle.
She was a militant.

In a time when black-white relationships are often taut, being with her was natural.

She asked me to accompany her when she met with a UC Med Center surgeon to discuss whether to have an operation for her cancer. I don't know how we became so close with so little time together. But we were. I went, as did a long-time friend of hers who'd come out to Oakland from Birmingham, Alabama to be with Elaine during her time of ordeal.

She wanted to know what we thought about her getting surgery. We both thought she should.

After meeting with her surgeon, the two of them took me to lunch at Tadich Grill at the foot of California St. We shared stories, laughed together, and then parted.

Then she was back in the hospital with "complications". I visited her. We had a good talk. Her Alabama friend was still in town. We were her two support people, or so it seemed to me.

She called before Kathy and I left for vacation. I told her I was sorry I hadn't been to see her before we departed, but things just piled up and got the best of me. She understood. I told her I'd see her when I got back. I think she knew that I might not. She didn't say anything to suggest that. She didn't want to cast a pall over our vacation. That's how she was.

Now it's too late.

Elaine: you were special. I'm so sorry to lose your living presence in my life. But you're still present. I miss you.


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