Peter Valjean Gregerson Sr.

We celebrate and honor his remarkable life. He was a husband, a father, a grandfather, a friend, a leader, and above all, a servant of God.

We celebrate the extraordinary legacy he has left behind. Peter lived 97 years, but even that long a life feels too short for a man of such vision, energy, and love.

The oldest of eight children, Peter was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Harvey and Hazel Gregerson, with siblings Thomas, Pauline, David, Naomi, Sharon, Mark, and Daniel. By the age of 20, Peter had three powerful experiences that made him feel without a doubt that God had spared his life. That belief shaped his attitude as he vowed to live the rest of his life to serve and honor God.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Janet Gregerson, who passed away in September 2024 and served as the inspiration behind his cherished book “The Golden Rule: The Best Way to Live.” Together, they raised seven children: Peter Jr.(Pamela), David (Dawn), Vicki (Jim), Douglas, Debra, Cindy (Roger), and Thomas (Wendy).

Peter was lovingly known as “Grampa” to 43 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. Without exception, each adored him and carried forward the lessons of love, faith, and kindness instilled in them.

To most of the community, he was best known as the founder and longtime president of Gregerson’s Foods, Inc. His motivation was to offer groceries at a lower price for families. From one store in 1969, he built a company that grew to over 40 locations and thousands of employees — the largest independent grocer in Alabama. Through his work, he provided not only groceries, but livelihoods, opportunities, and dignity for countless families. He also served as president of Super Valu for Alabama and Georgia, gaining the respect of colleagues far and wide.

Peter’s influence reached far beyond business. He was a civic leader who poured himself into his hometown of Gadsden. He dreamed big and then rolled up his sleeves to make those dreams a reality. His vision was seen in countless programs and projects he helped bring to life, including the Spirit of American Citizenship monument along the Coosa River, the monument to Willis Carrier (the inventor of the air conditioner) at The Center for Cultural Arts, and the planting of roses and pear trees along Rainbow Drive, in East Gadsden, and in West Gadsden. His heart for the youth of the area led him to offer help and implement projects for local schools, including a past favorite project, “I love Mom because…” for the elementary schools.

He founded and led organizations in an effort to enrich this community, such as the United Way’s Leadership Giving program, Keep Etowah Beautiful’s The Clean and Beautiful Comission, Gadsden’s committee for the All-American City, Riverfest, and the Spirit of American Citizenship Monument Committee. He served on countless boards, including United Way, the Chamber of Commerce, Gadsden-Etowah County Industrial Development Authority, Rotary Club, Lion’s Club, the Salvation Army, Sesquicentennial Committee, AmSouth Bank, and Alabama Power, serving many of those as chairman.

Peter's hard work and dedication earned him much recognition at the local, state, and national levels, including the Gadsden-Etowah Chamber of Commerce, Gadsden State Community College, United Way of Etowah County, the Gadsden Area Board of Retailers, the Salvation Army of Etowah County, the Northeast Alabama Section of the American Society For Quality, Alabama Wholesale Grocers Association, the Alabama Grocers Association, Super Valu Sav-A-Lot, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the American Management Association, and Who’s Who in U. S. Executives.

Peter was given an award by the state of Alabama’s House of Representatives for outstanding community service and civic participation. He was honored as Alabama’s Outstanding Civic Leader, and later as Gadsden’s Most Influential Citizen. He received the Patriot’s Hall of Honor from the Military Affairs Committee. Peter was recognized twice by the Sesquicentennial Committee for his vision and commitment and as exemplifying the true meaning of the spirit of citizenship. He was awarded the Citizen of the Year by the Community Intensive Treatment for Youth Program. He was recognized for his support of Education and the FFA Program. Peter and Janet were both given the “Heart of an Eagle” Award by the Greater Alabama Council of Boy Scouts of America. He was given the Gadsden Mayor’s Spirit of American Citizenship Award, the prestigious Lou Fox Community Service Award, the National Grocers Association’s “Entrepreneurial Spirit” Award, the “Spirit of America” award, as well as their highest award, “The Great American.”

The All-American City award was one of his most cherished memories. It was the culmination of a group effort by a committee of great citizens including two of his beloved friends, Dorothy Robinson and then-Mayor Steve Means. The award was a dream come true for him, as he believed his vision for Gadsden and Etowah County to be one of excellence, and he knew our community deserved the honor.

Yet if you asked him, he would tell you the real honor was the chance to serve — to give back to his community, his country, and his God. One of his favorite quotes was from Rabindranath Tagore, “I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and found that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy!”

Peter was a man of ideas, with a gift for words, a noted speaker with the National Speakers Association, who served as keynote speaker for the annual convention of the Natural Nutritional Foods Association and the Alabama Grocers Association. He lectured around the world and shared stages with leaders like Dick Cheney, Tom Landry, and Roger Staubach. His speeches were published in Vital Speeches and The Congressional Record. But whether standing before an audience of thousands or sitting next to family, his words carried weight because they came from the heart. He was a lifelong learner, with a personal library of more than 5,000 books related to history, philosophy, Scripture, psychology, health — his curiosity knew no bounds. He studied, he asked questions, and he never stopped seeking truth.

Most of all, Peter promoted living by the Golden Rule. He believed with all his heart that treating others as you would want to be treated could change lives, families, and communities. He wrote about it and spoke about it daily. It was the foundation of his faith and the compass of his life.

Yet beyond his accomplishments, Peter often spoke of how blessed he was. After his retirement, he spent more time with his own rose garden, reading, and enjoying the peaceful view from the front of his home. He looked forward to his weekly visits with long time friends Dr. Tom Morgan and Larry Furhman. His greatest blessing was his marriage. For 73 years, he had shared life with the “love of his life”, his beloved Janet. He was the first to tell you that she was “the wind beneath his wings”. At his 90th birthday party, he called her to the front of the room to sing that song to her. She was his rock, his encourager, his partner, his everything. Together they raised seven children, and from that came dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren who adored their Grampa. His family remembers him as wise and generous, a man who set high expectations but offered endless encouragement. He challenged his children to think deeply, and always listened with the intention to instruct. He taught, corrected, and believed in each of them. He made it a point to be present at countless birthdays, ballgames, graduations, and weddings; he was always there in the crowd, cheering them on, celebrating the milestones, a reminder of how deeply he loved each member of his family.

Peter’s faith was the steady anchor of his life. As a Gideon, he spent Saturdays bringing God’s Word into the Etowah County Jail along side his close friends, H.M. Freeman and Charlie Bowman. He looked forward to his fellowship time at First Baptist Church of Gadsden, with his Sunday School class being a highlight of his week, as he looked forward to spending time with like minded good friends. He had lost many of his Sunday School friends and mourned each deeply, including, but not limited to Henry Culp, Kent Henslee, Lucian Newman II, Jim Stivender, Harry Butler, Jim Martin, H.M. Freeman, and Charlie Bowman.

If he ever made a promise, he kept it, with no exceptions. As a a teenager, he vowed to his father that he would always “follow truth wherever it would lead, whatever the cost.” And he kept that promise although it cost him many friendships, even some family members. That was one thing he always expected of his children as well, there was never an excuse for dishonesty.

Employees, friends and family remember some of his favorite sayings like, “There’s a way to do it better, find it” and “If it's to be, it's up to me".

Peter Gregerson showed us how to live with purpose, how to serve with passion, how to love with faithfulness, and how to lead with integrity. His was truly, a life well lived. We are all better because of him. Peter fought the good fight, he finished the race, he kept the faith. May we honor him not only with our words today, but with the way we live our lives tomorrow — treating one another with kindness, with respect, and with the love of Christ, in the spirit of the Golden Rule.

Gadsden has lost a pillar, and his family has lost their anchor. But his legacy will not fade. It will live on in the community he shaped, in the countless lives he touched, and in the stories his family will continue to tell.

We will miss his voice, his wisdom, his fire, and his presence. But we also rejoice, because we know that Peter is now reunited with his beloved Janet, and standing in the presence of the Lord he loved and served so faithfully.

While going through things on Peter’s desk, a handwritten note of his was found. It says, “As I look back on my life with loving parents and good friends…a God-given wife in Janet…sons and daughters, a great blessing… my work - challenging, worthy and satisfying…our home on the hillside to enjoy the river, the faraway hills, the moon and stars, with peace and joy and love…I am glad to have lived it.”

Rest well, Peter. Your race is finished, your crown awaits.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations can be made to Gadsden State Cardinal Foundation- Golden Rule Program. Donations are fully tax deductible. Checks should be made to the Cardinal Foundation and sent to P.O. Box 227, Gadsden, Al 35902. Online donations are accepted at

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