Jessie Arlene "Too" Peterson

Jessie Arlene “Too” Peterson

Jessie Arlene “Too” Peterson peacefully transitioned on Sunday, June 7, 2026. Born on August 27, 1934, in Perry County, Alabama, Jessie was the beloved daughter of Benja Lue Tubbs Peterson and Lifus Peterson. She received her education at the historic Lincoln High School in Marion, Alabama, under the leadership of her uncle, Professor Richard Edward Tubbs. He was widely recognized for his outstanding contributions to the education of African American students.

In July 1963, Jessie traveled to Fort Wayne, Indiana, to help babysit family members. What began as a temporary visit became a lifelong commitment to the city she would proudly call home for more than six decades.

Jessie dedicated over 30 years of her professional life to serving others through customer service. Her employment included positions with the Lincoln National Bank, Fort Wayne Urban League, Glenbrook Mall, and several other retail establishments. She was known for her warm smile, gracious spirit, and genuine concern for everyone she encountered.

A woman with a servant’s heart, Jessie generously gave her time and talents to numerous organizations throughout the Fort Wayne community. She volunteered for more than 20 years at St. Joseph Hospital, where she received numerous awards and honors in recognition of her dedicated service. She also volunteered at the Civic Center and was an active member of the Fort Wayne Urban League Guild.

Jessie was a longtime faithful member of Friendship Baptist Church, where she served in several capacities, including many years as the church clerk. She found joy in reading and decorating her home. She especially loved decorating for Christmas and often began preparing for the holiday season long before Thanksgiving arrived.

Family gatherings were made sweeter by Jessie’s famous peach cobbler, a treasured tradition that family and friends eagerly anticipated at countless celebrations through the years. More than anything, Jessie will be remembered for her loving spirit, gentle kindness, and unwavering compassion. She treated everyone she met with warmth and respect, and many of her nieces and nephews looked to her as a role model for how to live a life rooted in love, grace, and generosity.

Jessie was preceded in death by her parents, Benja Lue Tubbs Peterson and Lifus Peterson; her brothers, Richard Peterson, Otha Douglas Peterson, Herman Peterson Sr., Bradley Peterson, Willie L. Peterson, and Lloyd Peterson Sr.; and her sisters, Dorothy Taylor, Betty Johnson, Mamye Patton, Mildred Peterson, and other beloved family members who welcomed her into eternal rest.

She leaves to cherish her memory twelve devoted nieces and nephews, many great nieces and nephews; her sister-in-law, Emma Peterson of Fort Wayne, Indiana; her goddaughter, Rosa Myatt-Mitchell of Cincinnati, Ohio; her very special friend, Jim Nichols; her dear friend, Linda Lewis; and a host of extended family members, church family, friends, and loved ones whose lives were enriched by her presence.

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