A few months prior to his passing in 2018, Henry Marvin Peacock received an official letter from the president of Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, which confirmed he and another former classmate were the school’s first African-American graduates. Proud of that accomplishment, Peacock’s family recently discussed the life of the man they knew and loved as “Henry.”

His sister, Elizabeth Henderson of Flat Creek, shared recently with the Times-Gazette how she misses his kind spirit. A Bedford County native, Peacock died of heart complications on Sept. 25, 2018, in Abilene, where he made his home with his family for many years.

Holding a copy of that official HSU letter-one which she intends to laminate-sister Elizabeth revealed how she was particularly proud “Henry” received this confirmation before his passing. She describes her brother as a loving husband, father, brother and friend to many over his lifetime.

Elizabeth said his HSU honors were much deserved, particularly because of how hard he had to work to get to the Texas school in the early 1960s. In addition to earning a degree in physical education/history, Peacock, in a very short time, became quite the HSU Cowboys athlete.

The alumnus continues to be memorialized there as an outstanding basketball hero from 1964-1965. School biographical information states: “the plan initially was to red-shirt the junior college transfer his first year, but injuries on the team pressed him into service.”

As a bench player in only 14 games his first season, Peacock still scored 182 points and had 188 rebounds. In his second year, he led the Cowboys in scoring with 395 points and in rebounding with 243. In 1965, his field goal percentage (a stat used to measure how well a player shoots from the field) ranked him nationally in the top 30.

Settling in Abilene, Peacock worked post ESU as a middle school teacher and coach. He retired from education in 2000, following 35 years of service.

Those are just some of the memories enjoyed by family members. With songs like, “Victory in Jesus,” and “Amazing Grace” played at his funeral, credit for his life’s success was attributed to his faith and to his upbringing here by his beloved parents. The Bedford County native was born in the spring of 1942, to the late Robert Louis and Elizabeth Cannon Peacock.

As well, his beloved wife, Constance, was given credit for being by his side since 1977. The couple reared three children, Madison Ryals of Richardson, Texas, Henry Peacock Jr., of Avon, Connecticut, who spoke during the memorial service, and Marvin Louis Peacock, who died in 2003.

In addition, Peacock leaves behind two grandchildren and three other sisters, Glorial Singleton and Gean Whitaker, both of Shelbyville, Estella Harvey, of Chattanooga, and a brother, Glenn Peacock, of Murfreesboro.

In addition to being known as “coach,” he was also known as somewhat of a brick and mortar man by friends and family, mainly due to his home improvement skills. He was also a gardener with a giving spirit, his sister Elizabeth notes.

Hardin-Simmons, which will always be special to the Peacock family, has a unique Texas history in itself. The school, associated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas since the 1940s, was founded as Abilene Baptist College in 1891, by the Sweetwater Baptist Association and a group of cattlemen and pastors who sought to bring Christian higher education to the Southwest.

The original purpose of HSU would be stated as: “To lead students to Christ, teach them of Christ, and train them for Christ."

On his funeral bulletin, handed out at First Baptist on 3rd Street in Abilene, Peacock was memorialized for his calm demeanor, easygoing manner and his quiet and kind spirit. As well, printed inside was one of his favorite Bible verses, Proverbs 22:1, which states, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”