Mary Ellen Overton-Peterson

Mary Ellen was born in Cleveland, Ohio on August 14, 1944 to Susie Stallworth and Hollis Gageham, and was raised by her foster-grandparents Idella and Thomas Preston. Mary Ellen received her education at John Hay High School in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1961, she married Samuel E. Pierce (Sophia Pierce), and then later married Ezell Peterson Sr. in 1966 (Ezell Peterson Jr. and Thomas Peterson).

Throughout the years, Mary Ellen had many successful achievements, including but not limited to, being an active member of her community by volunteering and her political involvements. She was the Secretary for James Barrett, when he ran for Sheriff in Cuyahoga County, Cleveland Ohio. She also worked for City Councilman, George Forbes, and was on the Board of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, where she had many influential connections that included working alongside Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.

Mary Ellen moved to Arizona in 1979 with her husband and three children, to continue her political journey, where she became a Precinct Committeeman of the District 30 and 63 for the City of Mesa. Her dream was to attend a law school to become a legal rights advocate. In 1990, she made a life changing decision by becoming the guardian of her daughter’s twins, Amber and Anthony Pierce-Acosta, “a responsibility she saw as her mission”. While caring for the twins, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Management from the University of Phoenix in 1996, and assisted her husband in growing the family business, B&B Trucking, LLC. During this time, she was also an active member of AmeriCorps, and on the Governor’s Task Force on Grandparent’s Concerns, closely working with the “Grandparents Raising Grandchildren” Youth Corp foundation. She became a substitute teacher, and later earned her commission as a public notary in 2008. Amongst other things, she enjoyed making people laugh, cooking, family gatherings, and traveling the world.

Mary Ellen leaves to cherish her memory, Sons Ezell James Peterson Jr. (Rochelle), Thomas Christian Peterson; God-daughters Helen Grampus (Lewis) and Liddia Taugelchee (Ephrem); 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-Grandchildren Nyree and Letty Washington-Jackson, and Eugene Peterson; God-Grandchildren Zachary and Nicholas Grampus, Shomari Nickens Cary; God Great-Grandchildren Manessa and Benjamin Pelt (Father Brandon Pelt); Sister Velma Susie Gageham-Horne and Brother William Gageham of OH; First husband Samuel E. Pierce (Zenaida) of AR; Special cousins Dorothy Almond and Pat Teamer of OH, Lena Mae Acoff and Sandra Mitchell of NV, Madeline Todd of KS; Best friends Classie Freeman of OH, Angela Woods, Dr. Uvon Brooks, Gloria Williams, Yvonne Nickens all of AZ, and many other special relatives and friends she held dear to her heart.

She was preceded in death by her Husband Ezell Peterson Sr., Daughter Sophia Pierce, God-Granddaughter Tiffanie Pelt, Sister Marilyn Rose Chapman, Aunt Mae Anderson, and Cousin James (Jack) Jackson, who she considered her dad.

Her strong and remarkable spiritual-being touched and inspired those around her, leaving an imprint on many hearts forever. She was respectfully known by an indefinite amount of people, as Nana.

We love you Nana. You will forever be in our hearts.

A memorial service was held on September 18, 2020, at 11:00am at Green Acres Mortuary and Cemetery, in Scottsdale, Arizona.