Henry "Butch" Roderick Peters

“Butch” was born in Boston, Massachusetts on September 6, 1944, to Catherine Drakeford Peters and Dr. Henry Roderick Peters, Sr. His cousin, best friend and partner in crime, Clayton Peters and Jr. Avelino Miranda were his two closest friends that he talked about often through the years. I wish I had known them and shared some of the fun times they had.

Butch served in the United States Marine Corp. He was a Rifleman, earning Rifle Sharpshooter and Pistol Marksman badges. He also trained in land mine warfare and M60 machine guns.

One of the things that impressed me the most about his military career is he was Marine security on a naval ship in the blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. This was one of the scariest times in my life. I always loved that he protected me thirty years before we met and continued to protect me for another thirty after we met in 1992. Semper Fi Butch!

Butch’s places of residence include Falmouth, Massachusetts, Washington DC, Merritt Island Florida, landing in Jacksonville, Florida where he lived the last thirty-one years.

Butch’s main passion was anything about cars. It did not matter if it was being behind the wheel of a funny car or wheel stander on the racetrack, or crewing on teams for his friends, building cars, or working on any kind of engine. He has been a member of NHRA for many, many years.

Butch was the funniest man I ever met. He always had a joke for whatever topic being discussed or problem being faced. He was a joy to be around.

Butch is survived by his wife, Faye Annette Peters of Jacksonville, Fl., his children, Albert Maurice Butler (Carolyn) of Kingsport, Tn., John Robert Jones of Jacksonville, Fl., Heather Jones Milton (Kenny) of Mobile, Al. and Samantha Allison Bauer of Falmouth, Ma., as well as many grandchildren and a large extended family on Cape Cod, Ma. Also, many close friends and drag racing colleagues up and down the East Coast and Texas. He was predeceased by his daughter Michelle, Tinsley in 2010.

The words “Thank you” could never express how we feel about our medical teams through this very long illness. First Coast Cardiovascular Institute in Jacksonville, Fl. Dr. Sumant Lamba, Dr. Yuhning Hu, and all the other doctors involved in his care are amazingly kind and intelligent people. We were blessed to have them care for us. Their clinical trial team is filled with beautiful people, heart, and soul, and we have come to depend on Amy Suphachinda and Patricia Bonadie for so much more than blood samples and test results. They win the award for “Caring for Your Patients,” and I will never forget all you have seen us through. Tony Jenette, who has monitored that beast in Butch’s chest the past few years, is a genius with the machine, and a unique and funny friend. Butch always looked forward to talking with him about cars and racing while Tony “tweaked” the dials on his pacemaker/defibrillator. You all are truly special in our hearts, and I will love you forever for taking care of the love of my life.

Our kidney doctor and the staff of First Coast Nephrology in Jacksonville, Fl. have cared for us for several years with much love and attention. Dr. Jamal Salameh is top rate in his field, kind and easy to talk to. We agree on so many topics, not just treatments. We love you.

A big thank you goes out to a group of people who made our last few days more than memorable by helping us have joy and hope in a very dark time. Our wedding was bittersweet, and we want to thank two amazing ladies at The Clerk of the Courts office that bent over backwards to help us obtain our wedding license, Tremaine Williams and Gianette Prince. You both certainly went “above and beyond”. Also, thank you to Ashlee Heeter and Odette Struys, and a myriad of nurses and techs at HCA Memorial Hospital that put together a wedding in the hospital chapel in record time. Thursday night Butch told his nurse “It was the best day!” I will never forget what you did for us.

To the staff at Community Hospice, Hadlow, I knew you were the right people to help us all make this transition. Thank you for how gently you cared for Butch the last two and a half days of his life. You are a Godsend.

Quotation from a song by Bruce Springsteen, Should I Fall Behind

“Should we lose each other in the shadow of the evening trees I'll wait for you.

Should I fall behind wait for me.”

Three words that sum up the life of Henry “Butch” Peters: Love, laughter, and adventure!

Butch’s service will be held on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at the Hardage - Giddens Greenlawn Funeral Home and Cemetery located at 4300 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, Fl. 32207. Visitation begins at 6:00 pm and the Memorial Service will be at 7:00 pm. For Questions you can call 904-396-2522

*In the past few years, Butch has really become interested in growing our own fruit. We now have several trees and vines that will continue to grow and provide sustenance for our bodies. In this vein, in lieu of flowers, please plant a fruit tree in your yard in Butch’s memory. I think he would really like that.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.GreenlawnJacksonville.com for the Peters family.