Peggy Elder Butler, Miss Alabama 1947, has died at age 93.

Butler, a lifelong resident of Gadsden, “passed away peacefully” on April 30, according to an obituary posted by The Gadsden Times. A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. Thursday, May 4, at First Baptist Church Gadsden.

Butler celebrated her 75th anniversary as a Miss Alabama titleholder in 2022, appearing at the pageant in Birmingham with other women who’ve held the crown. Butler’s walk across the stage at the pageant finals on July 2 drew enthusiastic applause, and was part of a celebration marking the 100th anniversary of Miss Alabama. At the time, she was the oldest living titleholder.

As part of the festivities that year, Butler also contributed a recipe to “The Miss Alabama 100th Anniversary Cookbook.” The recipe she chose, for Melt-Away Biscuits with Chocolate Gravy, was a favorite with Butler. (“Pair these biscuits with the chocolate gravy and a scoop of vanilla ice cream!” she said in the book.)

Butler was born in Birmingham, grew up in Gadsden and attended Emma Samson High School. She won her first beauty pageant at age 17. In 1946, she was named Miss Gadsden and Miss Zamora Temple, and earned the runner-up spot in the Miss Alabama pageant later that year. She was crowned Miss Alabama in 1947, and traveled to Atlantic City that year to compete for Miss America.

Butler (then Peggy Elder) tied for first place in the swimsuit preliminary at Miss America and took fourth place overall in the national pageant. According to a report by The Gadsden Times, she also turned heads in the evening gown competition, wearing a gown previously worn by June Haver in the 1947 movie “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now.”

(See vintage photos of Butler during her reign as Miss Alabama in the gallery below.)

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Peggy Elder, Miss Alabama 1947

“After the pageant, Elder traveled to New York to further her career, but became homesick. She returned to Gadsden and took a position with the Lady Perfection Mattress Co., traveling the Southeast as ‘Miss Lady Perfection,’” The Gadsden Times said. “She lived for a while in Cullman, but returned to Gadsden to take a job with the city.”

Butler was married to Hoyt L. Butler of Gadsden for more than 40 years. He died in 2008 at age 75. She is survived by her three children as well as grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other relatives. Butler also had two beloved cats, Jack and Tipper, according to her obituary.

The Miss Alabama Organization paid tribute to Butler on Tuesday via social media, with posts on Facebook and Instagram. The posts included photos of Butler during her time as Miss Alabama and said:

“We are sad to learn of the passing of Miss Alabama 1947 Peggy Elder Butler. Peggy attended the annual Miss Alabama competition often and we were thrilled to have her with us last year as we celebrated our 100th anniversary. Peggy won a preliminary swimsuit award and placed as third runner-up to Miss America 1947.

“In 2017, upon the 70th anniversary of her crowning, Peggy noted, ‘Wow! 70 years since I was crowned Miss Alabama! That’s 25,550 days I have faithfully put on lipstick and fixed my hair, because even after all this time, when I go out, someone will say, “Weren’t you Miss Alabama?” Recently, having lunch at The Club in Birmingham, the pianist asked me who I was. When my daughter told her I was a former Miss Alabama, she said, “I knew it! I knew it when you walked in that you were SOMEBODY!” I am proud and humbled to say that I have been SOMEBODY for 70 years!’

“We will miss Peggy, her smiling face, and her warmth and friendliness.”