When someone has a heart for public service, it is evident not in the things he or she says, but in the person’s actions.
Those who know Madison Ward 2 Alderman Pat Peeler know her top priority is public service.
She does not only aim to help continue growth in the city of Madison, but she also works closely with the schools, and volunteers regularly in the area. Peeler has a heart for people.
She began working in Madison in 1971 when she took a job with Madison Ridgeland Academy (MRA) after she was graduated from Mississippi College. She and her husband, Joel, moved to Madison about three years after that.
In 2015, Peeler retired after 45 years in education. She has served on the Madison board of aldermen for 22 years.
“When I first got here, I worked at MRA and became principal,” she said. “I spent 25 years there.”
She said her work in education has been rewarding.
“My entire career has been devoted to the children and the citizens of Madison, as an educator, volunteer and alderman,” she said.
“Something I have always shared with my students is to give back wherever you are,” she said. “Do your part and don’t wait for somebody to get something done. My big quote I said was that leaders act and leaders lead. But you have to act first.”
Something Peeler has noticed is that many of her students have returned to their hometown over the years.
“I feel like I’ve had a big part in building their hometown and building their education,” she said.
Many members of the community are former students, including dentists and lawyers and local business owners. Thinking about this makes Peeler swell with pride.
“When you’ve been here that long, there are just so many of my students who are now our business leaders,” she says with tears in her eyes. “You might not make much as an educator, but I’m finding that the rewards far outweigh that.”
She loves the chance to see her former students grow and take on leadership roles in their communities.
Reflecting on her years living and working in Madison, Peeler recognizes the significant growth the city has seen since she first moved there.
“And we don’t want to stop,” she said. “We want to keep growing and keep going. We need to look and find so many different ways to keep improving. Never stop. Keep making it better. And that’s our goal.”
When Peeler first came to Madison there was one building at MRA.
“I couldn’t even find Madison,” she said. “I said, I’m going to go look downtown and there was just the Baptist church and a little gas station. The population of the city at that point is what I have now in my ward. It has grown that much.”
One accomplishment Peeler is most proud of is her role in getting the Madison Chamber of Commerce established.
She is a charter member and founder of the chamber.
Peeler was also instrumental in Madison receiving a grant to construct the sidewalks along Madison Avenue and Rice Road.
“That’s one thing I’m still working on is to do another phase and extend that,” she said. “We would love for this to be a comfortable walking community to the schools.”
When Peeler isn’t volunteering with the schools and working with the city, she can typically be found walking with a group of friends, taking part in her garden club or visiting with the residents at The Home Place.
