John Beverly Peterson, Sr. passed away Saturday, March 1, 2014. A Celebration of his Life will be held at Ingleside Baptist Church on Monday, March 3rd at 11:00 a.m. Burial services will be private for family only in Riverside Cemetery. Dr. Tim McCoy and Dr. Mark Hudgins will officiate. The family will greet friends in the fellowship hall of the church following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Ingleside Baptist Church Building Fund, 834 Wimbish Road, Macon, GA 31204 or The Salvation Army, 1955 Broadway, Macon, GA 31201.
Born on February 10, 1934 in Gainesville, Georgia, he was the son of Frances Louise Johnson and Lewis Elmore Peterson. The family later moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where John first attended Woodward Academy but later graduated from William A. Bass High School. He attended Wake Forest University but graduated with a B.S. degree in Economics from Mercer University. While at Mercer, he was a member of Blue Key Honor Society, was Junior Class President and President of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity (and later the Alumni Association). He met his wife Barbara Senft while at Mercer, and they married in 1956. Upon graduation, John was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve.
He began a lifelong career in Insurance after purchasing Wilson Insurance Company in 1965. He was a member of the Independent Insurance Association of Georgia, where he served on the Board of Directors, and the Professional Insurance Association. In 1971, John sold his agency to Fickling & Walker where he remained as Vice President until it became Kaplan Insurance Services and, ultimately BB & T Insurance where he was Senior Vice President until his retirement.
Family and church were important to John. He was an active member for 57 years of Ingleside Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School to young boys. He was especially interested in sports, coaching baseball for many years and serving on the Board of Directors for Vine-Ingle Little League. Additionally, he served as President of the Stratford Academy Boosters Club. John was also a member of both the Macon Exchange Club and the Macon Elks Lodge #230.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Barbara Senft Peterson, and children: Susan Louise Peterson of Atlanta; Nancy Peterson Thomas (Jim) of Greenville, South Carolina; John Beverly Peterson, Jr. (Jean) of Macon; and Julie Peterson Greene (Tucker) also of Atlanta. John is also survived by six grandchildren who were the joy of his life: William Henry Thomas (Will), John Beverly Peterson, III (Jack), Elaina Lillie Peterson (Ellie), Louisa Elizabeth Greene (Lucy), Tucker Edward Greene, Jr. (Tuck), and William Henry Greene (Henry). In addition, special nieces Elizabeth Hampton Derivan (Michael) of Bisbee, Arizona, Hollie Hampton Jones (Herbert) of Nashville, Tennessee, Dana Hampton Cotter of Fernandina Beach, Florida, Suzy Peterson Stark of Gainesville, cousin Harold Law of Gainesville, Georgia, and many great nieces and nephews. John was predeceased by his sister Louisa Peterson Hampton.
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Snow's Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Services, Cherry Street, has charge of arrangements.
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