Billie Grace Peterson

COLUMBIA - Funeral service for Billie Grace Peterson will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 17, 2014, at Shandon Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends following the service at the church in Davis Hall. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. Billie Grace passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at Palmetto Baptist Hospital. Born in Erwin, Tenn. on May 3, 1934, she was a daughter of Edward Bowie and Fannie May Clark. After graduating from East Tennessee State University she worked briefly in lab research, before entering the teaching profession. After moving to Columbia in 1969, she continued her teaching career at Hammond Academy. In 1982, she graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Pharmacy degree. She worked at Rite-Aid, Clinchfield Pharmacy in Tenn., VA Hospital in Columbia, then retired from Moncrief Hospital. She was a member of Shandon Presbyterian Church and Erwin Presbyterian Church. Billie Grace is survived by sons, Lane (Babette) Renfro of Columbia and Robert (Amy Beth) Peterson of Golden, Colo.; grandchildren, Courtney (Nick) Vaughn of Asheville, N.C., Connor Renfro of Columbia and Josie Beth of Toronto, Canada; sisters, Fannie May Parsely of Erwin, Tenn., Lillian Duncan of Knoxville, Tenn.; loving nieces and nephews; her faithful and devoted companion of 21 years, Noland Livingston; and her beloved dog and companion, Cassie. She was predeceased by her parents; brother, Edward Clark of Gainesville, Fla.; her husband, Leon Renfro of Erwin, Tenn.; and former husband, Bob Peterson of Columbia. Billie Grace was a loving and gentle person who never met a stranger. She was a loyal friend, a loving mother, a devoted grandmother, a wonderful mother-in-law and the kindest person anyone could know. She had a big heart for all animals and anyone that needed a friend. She never said an unkind word about anyone. Her favorite things to do were spending time with her family and having family dinner that included extended family members. She was happiest when family and friends were spending time at her house enjoying her wonderful cakes and having conversations about anything. She was truly a blessing to all of us. The family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the nurses, doctors and staff of the 3rd and 8th floors at Palmetto Baptist for the compassion and loving care that was given to Billie Grace during her hospital stay. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pawmetto Lifeline, 1275 Bower Parkway, Columbia, SC 29212.