Lillie Mae Brown Peterson was born in Albany, Georgia on March 15, 1928. She was the beloved daughter of the late John Brown and the late Annie Wheeler Brown Edwards. During the early years of her life, she was educated n the Dougherty County School System.

Imbued with a strong Christian background, she professed her faith in Christ at a very early age. She was baptized and received the "right hand of fellowship" into the body of Christ at Third Kiokee Mission-ary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend Roswell B. Smith. "Ma Dear and Mother Peterson, as she was affectionately called, was unfaltering in her service as a member of the No. 1 Usher Board and the Ninety Plus Club. She was a faithful servant of the Lord who remained steadfast in her service until her health declined.

She was united in holy matrimony to Cleveland Peterson, Sr. Their union endured through the years and they were blessed with four children. Domestic at heart, Ma Dear was diligent in her efforts to foster a home filled with love, joy, and strong values. Her husband and her children called her blessed. For many years, she was em-ployed at the Nut Tree Pecan House of Albany where she labored tirelessly to ensure that no task was left undone. Often described as a reliable, dedicated, and committed employee, she was passionate about her work and stayed the course until her retirement.

Blessed beyond measure, Mother Peterson reached the hallowed age of 92. She lived to see generations of her off-springs with whom she left a legacy of love, humility, generosity, and godliness. Her love for all mankind was manifested through her daily walk. You couldn't know her without being inspired by her love and devotion to her fam-ily, friends, church, and community.

On February 5, 2020, the Lord called His servant home. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Cleveland Peterson, Sr.; brother, J. T. Brown; son-in-law, Lloyd Gregg; and her grandson, Tony Reco Carter.

Precious memories will forever remain with her children, Mary E. (Buford) Carter, Arthur Peterson, and Precious Taylor all of Albany, GA, and Annie Lois Gregg of Leesburg, GA; stepson, Cleveland (Betty) Peterson, Jr. of Albany, GA; fourteen grandchildren, twenty-five great grandchildren, and seven great-great grandchildren; a special cousin, Adell Webb of Albany, GA; treasured sister-in-law, Annie Lindau of San Francisco, CA; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.