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Dr. Peggy A. Redshaw

September 04, 1948 - July 19, 2025

Text:

Obituary For Dr. Peggy A. Redshaw

Author, publisher, and Austin College professor emerita Peggy A. Redshaw, 76, died July 19, 2025, of kidney failure. A memorial service is planned for Aug. 13 at 2:00 p.m. in Wynne Chapel at Austin College with the Rev. John Williams officiating and a reception to follow.

Dr. Redshaw was born in Beardstown, Ill., on Sept. 4, 1948, to Francis and Margaret Lee Redshaw. As their first-born child, Dr. Redshaw often said she benefited greatly from the emphasis her parents placed on education. She graduated from high school in Quincy, Ill., in 1966 and completed a BS degree in biology with honors four years later at Quincy University. With a National Defense Education Act fellowship for graduate study, she completed a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at Illinois State University in 1974. After completing post-doctoral study at St. Louis Medical School in Microbiology in 1977, Dr. Redshaw served as assistant professor of biology at Wilson College in Chambersburg, Penn., from 1977-79.

Austin College recruited her to become the only female professor on the science faculty in 1979, teaching courses in her specialty, genetics, as well as cell biology and human genetics for non-majors. In 1985, She married fellow professor Dr. Jerry Lincecum and would work with him on many projects throughout their 39-year marriage, including leading several student study groups to Ireland, where Dr. Redshaw used her photography skills to document the landscape and historic sites.

Dr. Redshaw was known for her interdisciplinary work that bridges biology, folklore, and regional history, and she received numerous awards for her teaching, writing, and community involvement during 35 years on the faculty at Austin College.

In 1997, she and two collaborators published the scholarly book, “Science on the Texas Frontier,” which was lauded for its historical research and writing. Dr. Redshaw presented many scientific papers and made presentations to statewide and local historical societies, including the Texas Folklore Society, where she served on the board. In 1990, Drs. Redshaw and Lincecum founded Big Barn Press and the Telling Our Stories family history project, which together became a vehicle for publishing the reminiscences of hundreds of local writers.

Preceded in death by her parents and brother, Dr. Redshaw is survived by her husband of 39 years, Dr. Jerry Lincecum; a niece, Amy Redshaw of Springfield, Ill.; several cousins; and her stepchildren, David Lincecum of Austin, Debbie Jensen of Flower Mound, and Doug Lincecum of Dallas. She will be fondly remembered by many former students, colleagues and friends.

Memorials may be made to Austin College, 900 N. Grand Ave., Sherman, TX; and online reminiscences and expressions of condolence may be made at the online guestbook at www.DannelFuneralHome.com.

Services

13 Aug

Celebration of Life

02:00 PM

Wynne Chapel 806 N. Grand Ave. Sherman, Texas 75090 Get Directions »
by Obituary Assistant

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Condolences

  • August 29, 2025

    Lance Barton

    Peggy was an outstanding mentor, teacher, and colleague. I am forever indebted for her mentorship early in my career. Peggy was an amazing person who changed the lives of those she contacted. All those students, colleagues, and people who she gave voice to have gone to on to touch so many more lives. Peggy's light will continue to shine through all of us. I am deeply saddened to hear of her passing.

  • August 08, 2025

    Kay & Jeff

    We're family and have so many memories but have to note that Peggy truly used her extraordinay gifts and in service to others. And she was that rare scientist who was also a good "explainer" to us lay people. We learned from her but she was also always interested in learning from others.

  • August 08, 2025

    Tom Keener

    Dr. Redshaw's presented three outstanding presentations that can be viewed on YouTube-Book of Kells. Spanish flu and Ebola. Her scientific analysis regarding the pigments that were used in the Book of Kells was phenomenal. Dr. Redshaw's presentation on the Spanish Flu undoubtedly assisted with our understanding of the Covid outbreak.

  • August 07, 2025

    Karen Koch

    Dr. Redshaw: You were a both a mentor and an inspiration to generations of female science students at AC, myself included. Thank you. You and your work will not be forgotten. Karen Koch, Class of 1989

  • July 27, 2025

    Lisa Greenleaf Jordan

    While many professors had an impact on my time at Austin College, none was as profound as Peggy Redshaw. She was my mentor, she invested herself in my success as a graduate student post AC, and she was the epitome of her scientific craft. I will always be indebted to her support of my intellectual development. Lisa Greenleaf Jordan, Class of 1987

  • July 26, 2025

    marlin cobb

    met peggy at wnj-worked with jerry as volunteer. she came to wnj to pick up jerry & we visited for a while.

  • July 26, 2025

    Dr. Tony Stephens

    From Tony Stephens. We are grateful to have known Peggy and are grateful for her contributions to students and the world at large. From stardust to stardust.

  • July 24, 2025

    Roger Platizky

    from Roger Platizky I was so very saddened to learn that my dear friend and colleague Peggy Redshaw had passed away. Peggy was a remarkable teacher, scholar and dedicated member of the community. Her leadership and loyalty were matched by her shared devotion to her husband, my dear friend Jerry Lincecum. At Austin College, Peggy, Jerry and I team taught a rigorous and successful interdisciplinary cultural heritage course for multiple years. With encouragement and respect for our own disciplinary approaches, we pushed each other to do our best work, based on teaching methods we repeatedly tested and revised until we felt they would best serve our diversity of students. Peggy and I later served on the health science interviewing committee and shared a strong interest in the medical humanities, especially the history of epidemics.( We really liked movies, theater, our pets, and gardening, too). Jerry and Peggy's examples of generosity are too numerous to readily catalogue. For me personally and meaningfully, they edited and published my book "An Elegy for My Uncle Sidney: A World War II Memorial," which was completed after I retired. I am so glad we were able to complete this project together. I cannot think of Peggy without thinking of Jerry: they were an indisputable team. When speaking about Jerry to me, Peggy would always call him "our guy." She would want to know that Jerry would continue to be embraced by the support of his family, friends community, and their former students. Peggy's influence, strength, generosity, work ethic and integrity will continue to thrive in the minds, hearts, and spirits of all who were fortunate to know and work with her. My heart goes out to Peggy's family and their many friends from multiple generations. Following in a tradition started by friend and colleague Goodlowe Lewis, Peggy, Jerry and I told each other on each other's birthdays , "I am glad you were born." Allow me now to add these words: Thank you for letting me share your lives professionally and personally ---this has been a true blessing that I will never forget.

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