Minnie Margaret Peterson

Minnie Margaret O’Hare-Peterson was born to O’Ligon Day and William O’Hare in Eunice, Louisiana on September 23, 1923. She was the baby of seven children. As a child, she traveled with her father and tutor on the Southern Pacific Railroad to numerous destinations.

Minnie accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Saviour as a youth in a Baptist Church. She rededicated her life to the Lord later on as an adult. One of Minnie’s favorite scriptures was the twenty-third Psalms.

She lived in Baton Rouge and Shreveport, Louisiana where she loved to swim in the gulf of Mississippi and consume lots of New Orleans seafood. As a teenager, Minnie lived in Chicago with her sisters and graduated from Wendell Phillips High School. Her favorite classes were drama and gymnastics. She studied anthropology and art at Portland Community College.

In 1940, she married Edward Peterson, Jr. and to this union, six children were born.

Minnie was an entrepreneur/homemaker and day care provider. Prior to state law on any given day she provided care to fifteen to twenty children. There was never a time when her home was not filled with children. She loved her children and other people’s children. She volunteered as a caseworker for C.A.S.A. and was a home inspector for the Fire Department under Model Cities. She was an accomplished artist (as you can see her beautiful artwork displayed. She was an entrepreneur for Judy Lee Jewelry, Melaluca, Amway, Natures Sunshine, Shaklee, Copperware Inc., Katydi Candies and Foundations, Inc. She truly was an entrepreneur in her own right. The Bible says in Proverbs 21:25 “Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She would always say to Sister Sandra Scott and Sister Mildred Anthony, “It’s not going to be this way always.”

Minnie always extended herself to family, friends and strangers especially if there was a need. Minnie’s long-time partners in crime, Mother Sarah Richie and Mother Opal Strong who banded together whenever there was a crisis in the family or the City. Together they believed nothing was impossible and that “All things are possible with Christ.” Minnie also had a very special friendship and sister in Christ with Mother Arnovia Hardy.

Minnie believed in a healthy, lifestyle avoiding processed foods and pharmaceutical drugs by eating raw garlic to lower her blood pressure and taking a healthy dose of cod liver oil.

Minnie’s macaroni and cheese was fondly known as “Minnie’s Mac” of which requests poured in on a monthly basis.

People always brought their sick children to her and she would have a natural cure. One of her remedies was for chicken pox, have your child sip catnip tea four or five times a day. She took very good care of her children as well as others and always made sure, if any had allergic sensitivities to certain foods; a special preparation was prepared for them, since Catherine and Edward could not eat everything.

Minnie was a member of the All Nations Nazarene Church under the leadership of Reverend Edgar Jackson and Bethesda Christian Church under the leadership of Bishop Thomas Brown. In her later years, she would frequently attend Emmanuel Temple Church with her daughter Denyse.

Minnie was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Peterson, Jr., mother, father, sisters and brothers’ Ludia Orr, Augustine Carter, Mary Stewart, Robert, Johnny and George Pairs, William O’Hare, grandson, Jonathan Peterson.

Minnie leaves to cherish her memory-nieces, Oligon Brandbury of Chicago, Illinois, Jacqueline Weaver of Detroit, Michigan, Beatrice and Henrietta Carter, Rena Kent of Los Angeles, California; son, Edward L. Peterson (Pat); daughters, Mary Jackson (Harry), Barbara O’Hare-Walker (Wilson), Catherine Hart (David), Denyse Peterson-Wickliff (Nic), Juanita Jackson, Pauline Reed-VanBrocklin; grandchildren, David Hart, Jr. (Leah), Isaac Hart, DeAsha Davis (Chad), Christina Peterson, Jakhary Jackson, Shaetye Reed, Horatio Jr., Solomon and O’Ligon Jackson; Upendo Jefferson and Family of Seattle, Washington; great niece, Tracy Ferguson of Los Angeles, California, great grandchildren; Andre, Dayree, Renee Hart, great-great grand children; Dre’Yon, Iyana, Ke’Andre Hart; great nephew, Grandvil Carter of Vancouver, Washington, great-great nephews, Ethan and Jack Carter of Vancouver, Washington. Godson’s, James Jr. (Fluffy) and Kenneth Combs, and a host of relatives, friends, extended family and a great grand dog, Shadee.

Minnie remained faithful to the Lord, devoted to her husband and family. She will forever be in our hearts and memories always!