A funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, August 23, 2015, at Hanes Lineberry North Elm Chapel, 515 North Elm Street, interment to follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery, 3901 Forest Lawn Drive. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Anna was born June 14, Flag Day, 1925, in Hollywood, LA to the late Charles Biekley and Mary Ann Stewart. She was the perfect accompanist, willing church worker, devoted wife and mother. Anna Louise comes rightly by her musical talents as she comes from a musical family. Her father, attorney Charles Biekley Stewart, Jr. was the first Bishop of Inglewood Ward in L.A., California as well as an accomplished violinist. Her mother, Mary Ann Gardener Stewart concertized and taught piano at the University of Southern California.
Anna Louise began a long career as church accompanist at the age of 10 in the Wilshire Ward Primary. After completing high school, she worked as a legal stenographer for the FBI during the first of the war years and attended L.A. City College in the evenings. She met Abel John Peterson, previous director of the infamous Mormon Male Choir, on his return from the Northern States Mission Field.
Once married and after the war, Anna and A.J. returned to Los Angeles to attend the University of Southern California where A.J. obtained the Master of Music Education Degree. Anna Louise assisted him by working at the Republic Studios as a professional accompanist. During this time, they organized the Adams’ Ward Contennial Chorus which toured Arizona, Nevada, and Southern Utah, also the Wilshire Ward Choir of 80 voices.
They moved to Provo Utah for Abel John to head the vocal music department at the Provo High. He directed the choir and was President of the Elder’s Quorum.
Anna and Abel had a marriage of music; she being the accompanist and he being the classical choral director, leaving the gift of music not only to the family but to many around the world. Their lives expanded cross country to Oregon, West Virginia, California and Alaska for 35 years. Anna worked as a VIP executive secretary at RCA Alascom. When Anna retired and after the death of A.J., she left Alaska and reunited with Melanie’s family and her grandchildren in North Carolina.
Mrs. Peterson was preceded in death by her son; Craig Stewart Peterson. She is survived by her children, Charlene Joy Peterson Snodgrass, John Christopher Peterson, Abel John Peterson, II, Melanie Peterson Aliff; seven grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
Care was graciously provided by Melanie Aliff, Jennifer Brown and Margaret Hilton.
In lieu flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Amedisys Hospice, 2929 Crouse Lane, Suite E, Burlington, NC 27215.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18