Ms. Margaret “Peggi” Haynes, immediate past president of the Burlington County School Boards Association, died Saturday morning, Nov. 7, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was a longtime member of the Mount Laurel Township Board of Education.
“Peggi Haynes was an outstanding county association leader. She provided exemplary service to the public schools of Mount Laurel and her fellow board members in Burlington County,” said Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod, executive director of the New Jersey School Boards Association. “On behalf of the NJSBA, President Mike McClure and I extend our sincerest condolences to Peggi’s family and the Mount Laurel school community.”
“I worked closely with Peggi for a number of years when I served as president of the Burlington County School Boards Association,” said McClure. “She was dedicated to children, committed to her role as a school board member, and worked tirelessly for the county association.”
As a retired public school educator, Ms. Haynes brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the board table.
Jeffrey Hicks, president of the Burlington County School Boards Association, notified his fellow board members of her passing in an email on Nov. 8.
“The county has lost a tireless advocate for public school students. She will be missed by all that knew her,” Hicks wrote.
According to her obituary published by the Mount Laurel Home for Funerals, Ms. Haynes died at home while surrounded by her loving family. She was 73.
She was born in Camden, N.J., grew up in Woodlynne and later resided in Merchantville before moving to Mount Laurel in 1973.
She served on the Mount Laurel Board of Education for 39 years and first ran for the board in 1981. She served longer than any board member in the district’s history. The Mount Laurel Board of Education dedicated its transportation building to her as a result of her commitment to the district. She taught in the Pennsauken School District for 41 years and retired in 2010.
She is survived by her son, Jeffrey R. Haynes, daughter, Julie M. Haynes (Blake Lehmann), and her brother, Joseph Lorenzo.
There will be a viewing from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, at the Mount Laurel Home for Funerals, 212 Ark Road, Mount Laurel, followed by a 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. John Neumann RC Church, 560 Walton Avenue, Mount Laurel. Interment will be at Our Lady of Victories Cemetery in Vineland, N.J. following Mass.