LILLIAN C. PETERSON

Lillian Coplin Peterson departed this life on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018.

She was born on July 4, 1934, to the late Robert Coplin Sr. and Rosa Brewer Coplin of Sumter. She was the widow of the Rev. William T. Peterson Sr. She was educated in Sumter County public schools, graduating from Lincoln High School in 1955. She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at an early age and was a faithful member of St. Luke AME Church as a child and after her husband's passing. As an adult, she committed herself to a life of serving others. In her years just after high school, she moved to New York to serve as a nanny. Upon her return to Sumter, where she married, Lillian worked as a domestic and business cleaning service worker, until obtaining a position with Sumter School District 17. As a district employee for 22 years, until retirement, she served as a teacher's assistant in a class for profoundly handicapped students. In this role, she coached, cared for and became connected to her students. In addition, because of her husband's position as a pastor, for more than 30 years she proudly worked as the first lady of the churches they were assigned. Upon her husband's passing in 2000, she recommitted herself to St. Luke, where she quickly became active as a missionary and with the choir.

Lillian leaves to honor her and her memory: her two sons, William T. Peterson Jr. of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Kenneth Peterson of Inman; one sister, Eartha Perry of Sumter; two daughters-in-law, Angela B. Peterson and Arian K. Peterson; five grandchildren, Ashley Lauren Peterson, Matthew Lawrence Peterson, Hannah Grace Peterson, Ashton Kai Peterson and Kennedy Aliese Peterson; one sister-in-law, Janie Peterson; two brothers-in-law, Ulysses Perry and Dave Rogers; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Public viewing will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. today at Job's Mortuary.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. today at Job's Mortuary.

Mrs. Peterson will be placed in the church at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday for viewing until the hour of service.

Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday at St. Luke AME Church, 2355 N. St. Paul Church Road, Sumter, with the Rev. George Brown officiating and the Rev. Caesar Richburg, eulogist. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends at the home, 23 Neal St., Sumter.

Job's Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter, is in charge of arrangements.

Online memorials may be sent to the family at jobsmortuary@sc.rr.com or visit us on the web at www.jobsmortuary.net.