Peggy Overly

Peggy Overly is the daughter of the late Rev. Marshall and Mildred Jackson of Nepton, Kentucky. She has six sisters and three brothers.

She has been a single parent for 28 years with a twenty-seven-year-old daughter, Ranai, who graduated from Morehead State University with her Bachelor of Science degree in textiles and clothing and is now Assistant Manager at one of the major clothing stores in Lexington, Kentucky. Ranai is also currently pursuing her Masters in Psychology/Social Work at the University of Kentucky. Ranai is the mother of Peggy's granddaughter, Quicra, who is now four years old. Her twenty-five-year-old son, Tjuan graduated from Fisk University with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and will be graduating with his M.D. on May 22, 1999, from the University of Kentucky Medical School.

Peggy is a 1971 graduate of Fleming County High School and a three-time graduate of Morehead State University. She holds an Associate Degree in Fashion Merchandising, a Bachelor Degree in Clothing Textiles, and a Masters Degree in Adult and Higher Education, which was all completed in five years.

Peggy has been listed twice in Outstanding Young Women of America and Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. She is currently a member of the Kentucky Association of Blacks in High Education and is now serving as Vice President. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is a former member of the National Association of College Admission Counselors, Kentucky Association of College Admission Counselors, former member and member at large of the Kentucky Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers, and former Rowan County Coordinator for Kentucky Educational Television. Peggy is the President of GOPI, Gore and Overly Positive Images, a company specializing in crushed pecan shell African American Art Figurines.

On the Morehead State University Campus, she is the advisor to the Black Student Coalition, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Non-Traditional Minority Student Association, and LaDies, acronym for Love All Dedication In Every Situation. She is also a member of the African/African-American Professional Coalition. In her free time, she enjoys reading African American history and developing designs for her future OPEG clothing line.

For the past ten years, Peggy was the Minority Student Recruiter at Morehead State University. She was the Minority Student Affairs Assistant Director from July 1996 to July 1998. Her current role is Minority Student Services Coordinator.

Peggy has received many honors and awards but the one that means so much to her was being recognized as an Adult Achiever by the YMCA Black Achievers in Louisville, Kentucky. Her most memorable experience happened August 28 through September 11, 1995, when she has the opportunity to go to China along with First Lady Hillary Clinton and 36,000 other women from around the world to participate in the Non-Governmental Organization Forum on women with the theme being, "Looking at the World Through a Woman's Eyes."

Peggy presented at the International Black Women's Congress Conference in Florida, the Sisterhood Organization in Lexington, Kentucky, the National Park Service Archeology in Boston, Massachusetts, for federal judges and attorneys, secondary and elementary schools, pre-schools and kindergartens, churches, and civil groups through the United States of America.

Peggy, along with Jerry Gore, was selected to receive the 1996 Appreciation Award from the Rowan County Historical Society for preserving cultural heritage.

On February 20, 1999, she was featured on the History Channel's "Save Our History: The Underground Railroad" which aired in 53 million homes.

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