Toombs County, Georgia Obituaries

Toombs County, GA Obituaries

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Ailey, Montgomery County, Georgia - Patience Elizabeth Russell Peterson, affectionately known as "Miss Pat", passed away in the Wheeler County Hospital in Glenwood, GA on August 8, 2002.

She was the widow of the late congressman Hugh Peterson of Ailey. She was the first woman to serve a full term on the Board of Regents of the Georgia State University system, and was only the third woman appointed to that position.

Mrs. Peterson was born on January 4, 1902 in Winder, GA, the daughter of the late Richard Brevard Russell, Sr. and Ina Dillard Russell. Her father served many years as Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. She was the 7th of 15 children, 13 of whom survived to maturity. Her oldest brother was the late Richard Brevard Russell, Jr, former Governor of Georgia, who served for 38 years in the United States Senate.

Mrs. Peterson attended the institution then known as Georgia Normal and Industrial College, "GN&IC", in Milledgeville, which later became Georgia State College for Women, and is now Georgia College and State University. She was one of five of the girls in her family who attended this school.

On June 26, 1930 Mrs. Peterson married Hugh Peterson of Ailey. In 1934 Mr. Peterson was elected to the United States House of Representatives, and the couple moved to Washington. Mr. Peterson served in Congress until 1946. During that time, and for 15 years thereafter, the family split their time between Washington D. C. and their home in Ailey.

In January 1970 Governor Lester Maddox appointed Mrs. Peterson to the Georgia Board of Regents for a full term. She enjoyed this service, driving to Atlanta every month to attend the Board meetings. Her special interest was of course her Alma Mater, Georgia State College and State University.

Mrs. Peterson was active all of her life in civic affairs and patriotic organizations. Her greatest love was The Daughters of the American Revolution. She was also an active member of the Daughters of American Colonists, the Daughters of Colonial Wars, the Magna Carta Dames, and the colonial Dames of America. She was a keen student of Genealogy and has spent many hours doing research on her family.

Survivors: her son, Hugh Peterson, Jr.; her daughter- in-law, Mary Jane Fincher Peterson; four grandchildren, Hugh Peterson, III and his wife Elizabeth Greene Peterson of Atlanta, William Fincher Peterson of New York City, Richard Russell Peterson of Atlanta, Patience Eunice Peterson of Atlanta; and one great-granddaughter, Sarah Jane Peterson of Atlanta; sister, Carolyn Russell Nelson of Winder, GA; and numerous nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services: 4:00 p. m. Saturday, August 10, at the Ailey United Methodist Church.

Burial: Peterson Cemetery in Ailey following the services with Reverend Jim Duvall and Reverend Richard Montgomery Nelson officiating.

Remembrances: Ailey United Methodist Church or to the Pat Peterson Fund at Georgia College and State University Foundation, Campus Box 96, Milledgeville, GA, 31061-0490.

Murchison Funeral Home of Vidalia.

Savannah Morning News, posted Saturday, August 10, 2002.

Patience Elizabeth Russell Peterson Obituary - Savannah Morning News - Archives - Obituaries for August 10, 2002 [08-10-02] - Page 2C.

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