Peyton Cummins Machen, 2007-2023

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Peyton Cummins Machen will be held Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at the First Baptist Church of Tallulah at 11 A.M. with Brother Jason McGuffie officiating. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. A private burial will follow for the immediate family.

Peyton passed away suddenly August 4 leaving his grieving parents Paul Stewart and Jaime Cummins Machen; brothers Brayden Stewart, Paul Michael Edward, and Conner James Machen; and grandparents Marla Evans Cummins, Cecil Paul and Debra Grady Machen all of Tallulah and great grandmother Jetta “Gan Gan” Grady of Batesville, Arkansas.

Peyton was born in West Monroe, Louisiana, February 18, 2007, and lived his brief but adventure-filled life in Tallulah. He attended Tallulah Academy and Briarfield Academy where he was an agile athlete who enjoyed being in the very center of intense competition in basketball, baseball, football, and golf. He was a true daredevil on his four-wheeler or dirt bike and could easily be identified by the cloud of dust following him. He was almost always barefoot and wired for action. Peyton was a genuine animal lover, especially devoted to his dogs Diesel and Hank. Overall, he was outwardly loving and unfailingly kind with the biggest heart.

The most endearing evidence of his caring side was the many hours he spent with his beloved Nana helping her around her house and gardening in her yard.

Peyton is joyfully reunited with his maternal grandfather James Michael Cummins, Sr., paternal great grandparents Billy Grady and Cecil and Lois Machen and maternal great grandparents Edward Raymond and Arlice Gustafson Evans and Silas Leander and Evelyn Smith Cummins. Joining his parents, grandparents, and brothers to honor and cherish Peyton’s memory are his uncles and aunts Michael and Beth Cummins, Dene and Heidi Machen, Alan and Katie Machen and his cousins Emily, Kegan, Austin, Hayden, and Clayton Machen, Elizabeth James Cummins, and Willow June Jordan. Numerous other aunts, uncles, and cousins complete the extended, loving family.

Peyton’s life was filled with so many friends who will long remember him and all the good times they shared. The extent to which his young life touched the entire community is evidenced by the enormous outpouring of love, prayers, and gestures of thoughtfulness which help the family bear their great burden of sorrow. The family is profoundly grateful for the overwhelming support and would like to offer a special thank you to Dr. Tommy Neumann.

Pallbearers are Winston “Max” Hargrave, John Thomas “JT” McDaniel, James Bud “Judd” Dennis, Chad “Dee” Morgan, Jr., Thompson Carr Fortenberry, Jackson Edward Fortenberry, and Henry James Ellerbee. Honorary pallbearers are members of the Sophomore Classes of Tallulah Academy and Briarfield Academy and brothers Brayden, Paul Michael, and Conner.

The family requests that any memorials be made to Tallulah Academy.