Myra Payne Peterson

Myra Payne Peterson, 96, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, December 23, 2023. She was born on September 22, 1927, in Birmingham, AL, the daughter of the late Rev. L. G. Payne and Cora Rogers Payne. Myra lived a short time in Blackville, SC, Columbia, SC and Bowling Green, KY, before moving to Jacksonville, FL, which was her home for 60 years.

She graduated from Columbia College in Columbia, SC, with a music degree.  Myra also graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX, with a Bachelor of Sacred Music degree. She was the wife of  the late Charles ‘Chuck’ Edwin Peterson who went home to be with the Lord in 2018.

A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Myra taught Sunday School for 30 years at First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL, and then taught 25 years at Parkwood Baptist Church also in Jacksonville, FL. While at Parkwood Baptist, Myra served as the church organist, director of Glory Singers, and was co-director of the program for senior adults. She taught seventh and eighth grade English at Arlington Junior High in Jacksonville, FL, for 27 years. Myra was a faithful member of First Baptist Church and the Couples’ Class in Orangeburg, SC, while living for a few years at The Oaks. In 2018, she moved to Martha Franks Retirement Community in Laurens, SC, and joined Little River Baptist Church in Honea Path, SC. Myra moved to The Renaissance in Due West, SC in 2022.

She is survived by her daughter, Carol P. Harrell (Wesley) of Due West, SC; son, Charles E. Peterson, Jr. (Cindy) of Cornelia, GA; granddaughters, Leigh Boland (Trip) of Charlotte, NC and Krista Wilson (Drew) of Cornelia, GA; grandsons, Chuck Harrell (April) of Birmingham, AL and Michael Peterson of Jacksonville, FL; great-grandchildren, Mac, Kate, and Ben Boland of Charlotte, NC, Charlie, Keels, and Sanders Harrell of Birmingham, AL, and Franklin Wilson of Cornelia, GA.

Graveside services will be 2:00PM, Wednesday. December 27, 2023, in Little River Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Garrett Hart and Rev. Steve McCollum officiating.  The family will receive friends following the graveside service.

Memorial contributions, in memory of Myra, may be made to Little River Baptist Church, 2847 Keowee Road, Honea Path, SC 29654.

A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com.

Harris Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Abbeville is assisting the Peterson family.