He was born in Selma, Alabama on November 30, 1943 to Bester Peterson and Ethel Hearns, and was the youngest of 15 children. Ezell moved to Dayton, Ohio, for a short period of time, where he received his education at Dayton High School. In 1963, he moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was employed with Forest City Foundry for 16 years. On January 1, 1966, he married Mary Ellen Overton-Pierce. He was the father of Ezell James and Thomas Christian Peterson, and stepfather to Sophia Pierce (deceased).
Ezell attended "Case Western Reserve University Law Enforcement" Training Program, working part-time performing security work for various companies. He later went on to Truck Driving school to pursue his passion as a truck driver. In August of 1979, Ezell moved his family to Arizona where he continued his passion and started his own trucking company, B&B Trucking, LLC. He and his wife successfully operated his company, until he retired in 2014. Ezell’s dedicated work ethic inspired those around him, where many would express him as being “the hardest working man that they know”. Aside from work, Ezell loved western movies and spending time with his family. He was respectfully known as “Big Shot” to most of his family and “Pete” to his associates.
Ezell leaves to cherish his memory, Wife Mary Ellen Overton-Peterson, Sons Ezell James Peterson Jr. (Rochelle), Thomas Christian Peterson; Grandchildren Quateece Dixon, Turrell Wilson, Twins - Amber and Anthony Pierce-Acosta, Paris Peterson, Christine Washington, Niya Peterson, Destinee Pierce, Faith Flores, Little Sophia Peterson, Kaylee Peterson, Zion Peterson, Dominic Flores; Great-Granddaughter Nyree Washington-Jackson; Brothers: Eddie, Jimmie and Andrew (Karen) of Dayton Ohio; Sisters: Velma Smith of Miami, Florida, Myrtle Reid (John) of Louisville, Kentucky, and Willa Love of Cleveland, Ohio; and many other special relatives and friends he held dear to his heart.
We will miss you Pete. You will forever be in our hearts.
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