Dorothy B. Peters, beloved Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother and a friend to all who knew her went home to be with her Eternal Savior on July 8, 2023 at the age of 91.
Dorothy was born October 9, 1931 in Vernon, FL as the first child of John B. and Grace Sims Brock. She grew up and attended school in Vernon and graduated from Vernon High School in the Spring of 1949. Tragedy struck during her High School years as her mother fell ill and died from cancer just as Dorothy was graduating from High School.
She moved to Dothan, AL in 1950 and lived with a lady named Mrs. Hall, whom she viewed as a second mother. Mrs. Hall took her to church. At a tent revival, Dorothy received Christ as her Savior and was baptized.
She took classes at a local college where she learned secretarial and business skills. Dorothy began working at the Pepsi Cola Bottling Plant in Dothan, AL where she met a co-worker named Lennie Peters. The two struck up a friendship and Lennie soon introduced Dorothy to her oldest son, Fred, who was home visiting Dothan on leave from the Army. Fred and Dorothy began a courtship and were married on August 15, 1953.
In 1952, Dorothy took a job as the Secretary & Finance Manager at Malone Motor Company in Dothan. In 1954, Fred wanted to go to school, so the newly married couple moved to Troy, AL. Fred enrolled at Troy State and Dorothy supported them by working as a secretary for the head of the Education Department.
In the Fall of 1957, Fred accepted a position at Chipola Jr. College and the couple moved to Marianna, FL. Dorothy accepted a job as the secretary to the Director of Academics at Graham Air Base in Marianna.
During the Summer of 1958, the couple moved to Tuscaloosa, AL and lived in a couple’s dorm on the University of Alabama Campus. Later in 1958 their first son, William, was born and Dorothy became a full-time mother and homemaker.
In the Fall of 1959, they moved back to Marianna and Fred was able to continue teaching classes. In 1960, her second child, Robert, was born, followed by her daughter, Mary Ellen in 1963, and their youngest child, Charles in 1970.
Dorothy became a stay-at-home mother for this next chapter of her life and raised her children for almost 20 years. In 1976, Dorothy started working at Golson Elementary School as a Teacher’s Aide and later as a Bookkeeper. She graduated from Chipola Jr. College in 1978, earning her AA Degree. She then transferred to Marianna High School in 1986 where she worked in the Guidance Office until her retirement in December of 1996.
Always industrious, after retiring, she continued to take classes at Chipola Jr. College. A lifelong giver of time and resources, she decided her time would be best spent serving others. She volunteered for 17 years as a Pink Lady at Jackson Hospital, and at the same time, volunteered for 13 Years at the Marianna Chamber of Commerce, where, at the age of 80, she was named the 2012 Volunteer of the Year.
At First Baptist Church, she was an active member for over 55 years. During that time. she served as a church librarian. She loved to sing in the church choir, and was a member of the Ruth Sunday School Class and the Joy Club.
Dorothy was very active in the local community. She served on the scholarship committee of the American Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary, she was a leader in both the Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts; she was an officer of the Chipola Dames Club; she chaperoned numerous school trips with her children, and gave tirelessly to improve her community.
Dorothy had many accomplishments, but what she was most passionate about – and what gave her the greatest pride and joy were gathering together with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren, and sharing her faith in Jesus Christ.
Dorothy was predeceased by her husband of 68 years, Fred, and her grandson, Nicholas. Left to cherish her memory are their four children: William F. Peters and his wife, Jennifer, Robert A. Peters and his wife, Debbie, Mary Ellen Peters Ingram, and Charles O. Peters and his wife, Bobbi.
She was especially proud of her grandchildren: William G. Peters and his wife, Megan, Caleb Frederick Peters and his wife, Jenna, Jacob L Peters, and Rebecca Peters Holcombe and her husband, Forrest, Joshua R. Peters and his wife, Heidi, Michael L. Ingram, Matthew L. Ingram, Alexandria G. Peters, and Jonathan B. Peters; along with her great-grandchildren: Blake, Presley, Carter, and Jude Peters, Mila Jane Peters, Scarlett and Remi Peters, Ellie Jo Peters, and Selah Holcombe.
She is also survived by her brother: John D. Brock and his wife, Virginia
The family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers of By Your Side, along with Carol’s Angels, Covenant Hospice, and Dr. Steven Spence’s Office all of Marianna, FL for the care that Dorothy received during the final months and days of her life.
Funeral services will be 11A.M. Thursday, July 13, 2023 at First Baptist Church in Marianna, FL, with Reverend Vince Smith officiating and Marianna Chapel Funeral Home directing. A private family graveside service will follow in Pinecrest Memorial Gardens where Dorothy will be laid to rest next to her husband, Fred Peters.
The family will receive friends from 10A.M. until the time of service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the First Baptist Church of Marianna, FL, the Frederick Peters Scholarship at Chipola College, or to the Nicholas Peters Scholarship Fund at Community Christian School in Tallahassee, FL.
Condolences may be made online at www.mariannachapelfh.com
