Peggy Speer Raines, age 90, died Nov. 3, 2023. Born in Lucedale, MS, she moved to Mobile after finishing high school. Possessing a beautiful singing voice, she studied with the renowned Madame Rose Palmai-Tenser and joined the Mobile Opera in the early 1950's. She sang several leading and auxiliary roles in their productions. One of their orchestra conductors was Vernon Raines, whom she married in the mid-1960's. They later moved to Meridian, MS where he was the conductor of the Meridian Symphony Orchestra. Upon retirement, they both moved back to the Mobile area, where he taught violin and piano and was a member of the Mobile Symphony, and she was a member of the Schumann Music Club and did volunteer work for Mercy Life. Peggy was predeceased by her husband; her only sibling, Gloria Rothenburg; cousin, Billie Alexander; other cousins and friends. She is survived by her dear friend, Elizabeth French, and by her beloved dog, Buffy. Peggy went through RCIA at St. Dominic in 2007, and deeply loved her Catholic faith. She was a supporter of environmental issues and also believed strongly in equality and justice for all.
November 12, 1932 - November 3, 2023
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Dominic Catholic Parish on Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 10:00 am. Visitation will take place before, at 9:00 am, in the Murphy Center. Interment will be in Mobile Memorial Gardens.
