Courtland – Zachary Whitley Peden, 13, passed away October 15, 2020 peacefully in the arms of his parents and surrounded by his father and his maternal grandmother in Duke University Hospital after a long illness.

He was born in Franklin and was an 8 ^th grade student at Southampton Middle School.  Zach played baseball for Sedley Recreation Association and was on the Southampton Middle School football team.  He was a member of Ivor Hunt Club, an avid fisherman, and liked the Dallas Cowboys.  He enjoyed spending time working in the shop on cars and trucks with Brandon.

Left to cherish his memory is his parents Jennifer and Brandon Council ; his father John Whitley Peden, Jr. (Lee Ann Horstman); a sister Berklee Hart Council; maternal grandparents, Ginger and Clifton Vincent, Jr.; paternal grandparents Tammy Eicher (Randy); his Nana, Clara Gillette; his KK, Katherine Gillette; his Pop, Hart Council (Suzi); two aunts, Valerie Howell (Kevin) and Cortney Metcalf; an uncle Ryan Council (Nicole); cousins, Tyler, Jase, Skyler, Cohen, Jacob, Brayden, Sarah, and Chelsea; and a sweet friend, Caroline Nelson.

A Graveside Service will be held at 11AM Thursday, October 22, 2020 in Poplar Spring Cemetery in the New Annex off of Homestead Rd.  The family has requested that everyone dress casually and wear your Zach Strong shirt and suggests that memorial donations be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 200 Rye Brook, New York NY 10573.

The family would like to thank everyone at CHKD and Duke University Hospital for their loving care of Zach.

www.wrightfuneralhome.org