Peggy Cockerham

Peggy Jean Cockerham, among the first women minority GMC automotive dealership owners, passed away on November 13, 2018, in a local hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was the previous owner of Southlake Buick, Volvo and Subaru; Atlanta, GA and Franklin Pontiac-Buick-GMC; Franklin, TN.

Peggy J. Cockerham was born to the late Artis Oscar Cockerham and Larnell Hill Cockerham on September, 5 1956 in Elkin, North Carolina. Peggy was a graduate of Patrick County High School class of 1974. Peggy attended Greensboro College in Greensboro, NC earning a B.S. degree in accounting ‘78 and received her MBA in finance from Clark-Atlanta University.

A former vice president with Nations Bank in North Carolina, Peggy was drawn to the auto business for the opportunities it affords women and minorities. Peggy decided to turn banking in for an auto dealership opportunity. She left banking in 1989 and trained for a year at a GM dealership in Charlotte, NC, that was followed by a stint in Detroit, MI learning to be an operator-owner. The experience gave her insight into all aspects of an auto dealership, from service and parts to sales and personnel. During her training, Peggy crossed paths with veteran Atlanta dealer Greg Baranco and went on to spend 18 months in his store as general manager. Always wanting to be an entrepreneur, she opened the doors of Southlake Buick-Volvo-Subaru in December 1992. Peggy later relocated to Franklin, Tennessee where she owned and operated Franklin Pontiac Buick GMC Inc. for many years. Peggy Cockerham, founder and president of Franklin Pontiac-Buick-GMC, received the Minority Business of the Year Award for 2006. In 2009, Peggy would be among the only three GM minority women owned dealerships in the country. Peggy spent 20 years or more in the industry. Peggy was employed as an Investigator Officer at  the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, in Nashville, Tennessee at the time of her passing.

Peggy contributed throughout her career to the auto-industry profession and to the communities in which she lived. She had a strong passion for the advancement of women and minorities in their quest to be afforded the same opportunities as other fellow owners through her volunteerism, commitment, and dedication to small business, community outreach, neighborhood development, and mentoring.  She has served on various boards and as a member in various organizations in the Atlanta and Tennessee area; Chamber of Commerce both Atlanta and Nashville area, Art Council, National Association of Minority Auto Dealers, NAACP Lifetime member, Vivian Wilhoite Metropolitan Nashville Property Assessor Campaign, (Treasurer), Ujima House, Inc. (Board Chair), Links, Inc. - Parthenon Chapter, Nashville Foundation for Women of Color, (Financial Secretary), 100 Black Women, Inc. both Atlanta, Georgia and Nashville, Tennessee Chapters. She was a devoted member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and an active member of the Nashville Alumnae Chapter.

Peggy began her life of faith at Samaria Holiness Church in Stuart, VA. She later became a member of Cascade United Methodist Church in Atlanta, GA. She is survived by a loving and devoted family, sisters: Vickie Hill, Patty Etheridge; brother, Daniel (Brooke) Cockerham; loving aunts, Betty Gaither, Carrie Hill, Betty Scales, Joann Cockerham, Essie Bee Gist ; uncle Joe Cockerham; niece Angelica Cockerham; nephew, Michael Etheridge, and host of other relative and friends.