Lamarion Peterson

With hearts full of gratitude and cherished memories, we celebrate the beautiful life of LaMarion Peterson, who entered her rest on January 15, 2026, in Jacksonville, Florida, at the age of 91 years young.

As the baby of 12, born to the late Mattie and Willie Stevens in Quitman, Georgia, LaMarion was blessed to grow up surrounded by the love of her siblings: Willie June, Magnolia, Booker T, Kathleen, Ferris, Mattie, Samuel, Pinell, George (predeceased) and survived by the twins Ernestine and Bernadine. From this loving foundation grew a wonderful family tree of countless nieces (especially Joan Costello and Betty Reed, her "playmates"), nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and beyond—each one treasured deeply in her heart. She and her dear sister Bernadine frequently reminisced about their beloved extended family, keeping those precious connections alive through laughter and stories.

A woman of quiet intelligence and determination, LaMarion graduated as Valedictorian of Brooks County High School's class of 1951 in Quitman, Georgia. She began her nursing education at Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA. Although life's blessings -marriage, six beautiful children - and then relocating to NJ redirected her path for a time, her desire to be an RN never dimmed.

After her six babies graduated high school she completed her RN education at Middlesex County College in New Jersey, earning the highest academic achievement in nursing with a perfect 4.0 cumulative average—a testament to her God-given abilities and dedication.

However, her first and most cherished career was being the heart of her home, LaMarion enjoyed cooking, sewing and caring for her family; her daughters fondly remember the matching outfits she sewed for them as well as the curtains, pillow covers, sofa slipcovers; whatever was needed she sewed it. LaMarion faithfully prepared her husband’s meals for 73 years until her health failed.

LaMarion also enjoyed traveling and cruising from Alaska to Europe, Mexico, Hawaii and the Caribbean she treasured her time and memories traveling with friends and family. She enjoyed reading, puzzles, playing scrabble and any hobby that stimulated the mind.

Following her nursing education, LaMarion brought her love of babies to St. Peter's Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where she cared for newborns with the same tenderness she showed her own six children: Bertram (Jeanae), Sonya (Virgil), Frederick, Debra, Teresa, and Keith (Greta) Peterson. Her legacy of love then extended to her nine grandchildren -Alisha, Danielle, Antoine, Alyssa, Jesse, Austin, Jeanae, Aaron and Olivia - and then to her ten great-grandchildren, each one a precious gift that filled her heart with joy.

After retiring in 1997, LaMarion and Jesse relocated to Jacksonville, Florida, where she found spiritual community at Northeast Congregation and Highlands Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. In 2000 she dedicated her life to Jehovah and was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Though naturally shy, she took to heart the scripture at 1 Thessalonians 2:2 “we mustered up boldness by means of our God to tell the good news” with conviction and grace.

LaMarion, till her passing held close to her heart the promise of paradise in God’s Kingdom (Matt 6: 9,10), dreaming of tending a lush garden of vegetables, getting to know her older brother June and other relatives, and experiencing the youthful vigor as described in Job 33:25. These hopes sustained her gentle spirit and reflected her deep, abiding faith in God and the Bible’s promises.

"I love you," she said in her final days that captured the essence of who she was. LaMarion was a woman of great strength, boundless love, and unwavering devotion to her God - Jehovah, her husband, children, family and to all her friends.

She is deeply loved and will be profoundly missed. We are forever grateful for the gift of her life, the warmth of her embrace, and the enduring legacy of love she leaves behind.

Until we meet again in paradise, Dear LaMarion, Cherished memories of you will always be our blessing and comfort.