WHEN PEYTON Allison was a little girl, she lined up her Bratz dolls and imagined she was their teacher. Other times, she talked her little brother, Alex, into pretending he was one of her students.
Others gravitated to Peyton’s bubbly personality. She made friends easily, as if collecting wildflowers from a vast meadow. Her loyalty knew no boundaries. A leader, a “girlie girl” who loved music — these were the words that described Peyton. According to her parents, Ricky and Laura Allison, she “bled UT Orange.”
While she was a student at Cascade High School, Peyton worked as a waitress for Sonic, Bell Buckle Cafe, and Bocelli’s. After she graduated from Motlow State Community College, she worked as a teller at First Community Bank during the day. She attended Middle Tennessee State University at night to earn a degree in marketing. In 2022, after graduation, she accepted a position with D&R Contractors. Though she thrived within the family atmosphere at D&R, her childhood dream kept beckoning.
When the opportunity became available for her to teach, Peyton didn’t waste any time. She applied to Eakin Elementary School and was thrilled to land her dream job as a fifth-grade teacher. Hours melted into days as she meticulously decorated her classroom and prepared for the first day of school — an abbreviated day — Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
The next morning began, as most Saturdays did for 27-year-old Peyton, with anticipation. She was excited to spend the day with her closest besties, but that evening, tragedy struck.
Laura said, “Peyton was a LIGHT. People were drawn to her wherever she was. She was easy to be around because she made everyone feel welcome in her space. She treated everyone with love and kindness. You could always depend on Peyton to be loyal to her people.”
Her dad, Ricky, added, “We did everything as a family. We enjoyed yearly vacations, attended UT games with family and friends, and went camping, boating… and we sang karaoke. Teaching was always a dream job for Peyton. Ever since she was a little girl, she has had a love for children. She was excited to begin her teaching career.”
On Saturday, June 6, a fundraiser was held from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Grindstone Cowboy, adjacent to the historic Bedford County Courthouse. To honor the life of Peyton Lanae Allison, her family created a scholarship for local students pursuing a degree in education.
Several in the community stepped forward to make this fundraiser successful. Tina Corley created Facebook advertisements, Ashlyn Chapman provided T-shirts, Craig and Mindy Campbell offered the Grindstone Cowboy as the venue, Brett Bone and the Lock and Loaded Band provided the music, and Debbie Watkins, the guidance counselor from Cascade High School, worked out the details for the scholarship application.
“We hope to give all graduates who are pursuing a degree in education a means to pursue their dreams,” Laura said. “Peyton was so excited to encourage values and to set goals for her students. One student will be chosen from Cascade High School this year, but in the future, one will be chosen from all three high schools.”
Students who meet the following qualifications may contact their guidance counselors to obtain an application. They must be pursuing a degree in education, have a minimum GPA of 2.7, and submit an essay from one of these topics: Describe a challenge you have overcome and what this challenge taught you, or how you have made a difference in someone’s life. They must also submit a letter of recommendation from a teacher, coach, or employer. Before the chosen applicants can receive their payout, they must provide proof of college registration with their major listed as education.
“The ideal candidate will be someone who can overcome obstacles and believes in themself,” said Laura. “Peyton believed she could, so she did. She was determined and never gave up. She was always there to help others. We are hoping this scholarship will help a student achieve their dream.”
The loss of Peyton has left a void in the Allison family, but they are using their pain to bless other families within our community. This scholarship in honor of Peyton Allison keeps her name alive and opens the door for future educators to one day step foot inside their very own classrooms — just like Peyton.
The Allisons said, “Follow your dreams and live life to the fullest cause things can change in the blink of an eye.” GN
