Randolph Dillon Peets, Jr. was born January 17, 1925 in Brookhaven, MS, the son of Randolph Dillon Peets and Wyeth Jones Peets. Along with his brother "Bobby", the Peets family moved to Euclid Avenue in Jackson in 1933. After a prank-filled childhood - including swimming in the water tower on Riverside Drive, skating around the outside balcony atop the Old Capitol in downtown Jackson, and stuffing socks in the instruments of his fellow trumpet players - Randolph graduated from Central High School in 1942.
With the Japanese invasion of Pearl Harbor fresh in his mind, Randolph entered the U.S. Navy V-12 program at Millsaps College where he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity, received his Commission at Columbia University, and served his country as a communications officer aboard the USS Rizzi in the Pacific theater. After WWII, Randolph attended Tulane University in New Orleans where he earned a business degree and was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.
In 1948, Randolph married the former Charlotte Gulledge of Crystal Springs. Randolph and Charlotte had a happy marriage of 60 years until Charlotte's death in 2008. They had three children - Dale, Wyeth and Randy - nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. With Charlotte's reminders, Randolph attended many recitals, birthday parties, ballgames, and other events involving the children and grandchildren. Most times, Randolph and Charlotte went in separate cars as he tended to arrive late and leave early, and she didn't want to miss a moment!
Also in 1948, Randolph joined his dad at Mississippi School Supply Company and began a long and successful career with MISSCO. Randolph's first job was as a traveling salesman calling on school superintendents, principals, and coaches all across the state - stopping many times at pay phones to make the next appointment and almost as many times for a root beer float at the closest soda fountain!
Over the years, Randolph served as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board of MISSCO and its affiliated companies. He was well-known throughout the school supply and equipment industry, serving as an officer or board member of the National School Supply and Equipment Association on several occasions. Randolph was also active in local community affairs serving as an officer or board member of the YMCA, Downtown Jackson Rotary Club, Goodwill Industries, and Galloway Memorial Methodist Church.
Randolph loved to sing - especially "barbershop style" - and was very active in both the local and national chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quarter Singing in America (SPEBSQSA). He and Charlotte traveled many times to the national convention to renew friendships all across the country and listen to the competing quartets, and joining others for impromptu renditions of Sweet Adeline in the hotel lobby and sometimes even in the elevator.
Randolph was an enthusiastic student of history, especially Southern history, and had great admiration for Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee and the gentlemanly qualities espoused by both. He especially admired the role that Lee played in reuniting the country after the Civil War. Randolph enjoyed visiting Civil War sites and studying battlefield tactics. Randolph also loved Ronald Reagan and train travel. One of the highlights of his later years was a trip across the Canadian Rockies aboard the Rocky Mountaineer with Charlotte, their three children and their spouses.
If a man's legacy is his family, then Randolph and Charlotte have left quite a legacy. Randolph worked hard to provide for his family and was always there for them. He and Charlotte worked even harder to do many things as a family and keep all three children and their spouses, and all nine grandchildren and their spouses safe and closely connected. They succeeded exceedingly well.
Randolph loved his God in a quiet way and expressed his Christianity through living a life of principle and integrity. He was respected and well liked by all who knew him. His kindness and sense of humor will be missed by his family, former co-workers, and many friends.
Randolph was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Charlotte Dale Gulledge Peets and his brother Robert Jones Peets. He is survived by his daughters Dale Sorgenfrei (Mark) and Wyeth Luter (Billy), his son Randy Peets (Jackie), 9 grandchildren, Mark Sorgenfrei (Kim), Brian Sorgenfrei (Liza), Andrew Luter(Christi), Daniel Luter (Meghan), David Luter, Ryan Peets, Jill Peets, Ross Peets and Reed Peets and 4 great grandchildren, Graham Sorgenfrei, Lucy Sorgenfrei , Shelby Sorgenfrei and Annie Sorgenfrei.
Memorials may be made to The Barbershop Society, 110 7th Ave. North, Nashville, TN 37203 or Reformed University Ministries, 1700 North Brown Rd., Suite 104, Lawrenceville, GA 30043, or Galloway Memorial Methodist Church, 305 North Congress St., Jackson, MS 39201 or your favorite charity .
Visitation will be Sunday Oct. 28, 2012 from 4:00-6:00 pm at Wright and Ferguson Highland Colony Parkway. A graveside service will be held Monday at 10:00 am at Parkway Memorial Cemetery, Ridgeland, MS.
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