Peyton Thomas Hairston, Sr., a lifelong resident of Winston-Salem, NC, was born on Saturday, August 27, 1932. He departed this life and entered his eternal rest on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, 2014. He resided at his home at 425 Bacon Street for more than fifty-five years.

Peyton was the ninth of eleven children born to the late Reverend Braxton C. Hairston, Sr. and Brown Lee Hairston.
Peyton was educated in the Winston-Salem City School System and graduated from Atkins High School in the Class of 1950. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Education and Teacher Certification at Winston-Salem Teachers College, now WSSU. His Master of Science degree and his Principal and Superintendent Certificate were awarded by NC A&T State University. Further study included programs at the UNC Chapel Hill and Appalachian State University.

It was while he was a student at WSSU that Peyton met the love of his life, Jannie Marie Shaw, a fellow WSSU student. They were married in 1954 and made their home in Winston-Salem. Their union was blessed with two sons, Peyton T. Hairston, Jr. and Gregory C. Hairston, of whom he was very proud. Peyton was a loving, caring, and devoted husband and father, who reared their sons in church and served as a living exemplar of what it means to love God and family.

After college, Peyton served in the US Army as a member of the Signal Corps, with his military specialty being radio repair. He was honorably discharged, after which he began a distinguished professional career. In Winston-Salem, he was a member of the first all-African American professional firefighting company in the nation, where he distinguished himself as a firefighter and student.
Peyton then entered the field of education as a mathematics teacher at Atkins High School in Winston-Salem. His exemplary teaching and leadership skills led to his promotion to the position of assistant principal, where he was assigned to Philo Middle School. His next assignment was Parkland High School, which led to his appointment to the planning team for the school system's Career Center. Peyton's educational career also included principalships at Mineral Springs Middle School, East Forsyth Annex, and Union Cross Elementary School.
Peyton served tirelessly in his church, at his alma mater, and in his community. He served for 20 years as Chairman of the Board of Deacons at United Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, where he also taught Sunday School for many years. His services also included Chairman of the pastoral search committee, teaching Bible Study classes, and membership on other committees throughout his many years as a committed and dutiful member of his church

As an alumnus of WSSU, Peyton was elected to serve as a two-term President of the National Alumni Association of his beloved alma mater. He was also President of the Kimberly Park Alumni Chapter of WSSU. Additionally, Peyton is a 2012 inductee into the WSSU Athletic Hall of Fame in recognition of his meritorious service to and support of intercollegiate athletics. A special honor bestowed to Peyton for his dedicated and selfless service to the university was the naming of the WSSU Welcome Center on campus in his honor, which now bears the name The Peyton T. Hairston Welcome Center.

Peyton's service to the community included his successful efforts to bring Little League Baseball to East Winston-Salem as a form of healthy entertainment and recreation for its citizens. He also held the office of Treasurer of the Winston-Salem NAACP chapter and served as a leader of the Sea Scouts of the Boy Scouts of America.

Peyton was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Jannie Marie Shaw Hairston; and siblings, Annie Bell, Bernice H. Moore, Lucinda H. Perry, William Otis, Lillie Beatrice Hill, Earnest Lee, Braxton Claybron, Charles Edward, and James Franklin.

He is survived by his two sons, Peyton T. Hairston, Jr. and his wife, Tanya Hairston, of Knoxville, TN, and Gregory C. Hairston and his wife, Beth Day-Hairston, of Kernersville, NC; four grandchildren, Ashley Hairston Doughty (Devin), Peyton T. Hairston, III, Gregory C. Hairston, Jr., and Morgan D. Hairston; his sister, Eleanor Christine Organ of Colesville, MD; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 12noon Thursday, June 12, 2014 at United Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Prince R. Rivers officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family visitation will be held from 10:30am until 12noon on Thursday at the Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the Jannie Marie and Peyton T. Hairston Scholarship Fund, Donor Records, Winston-Salem State University, 311 Blair Hall, Winston-Salem, NC 27110.