Lela Mae (Shaw) Peterson

Lela Mae Shaw Peterson, 69, passed away on Monday, January 7, 2019.

Lela was born August 30, 1949 at Station Hospital (Womack) Fort Bragg, NC to the late MSGT Daniel Edgar and Katherine Louise Shaw.  She was preceded in death by her husband, CWO-4 Oscar Nolan “Pete” Peterson; a son, Shawn Nolan Peterson; a brother, Bill Smith and his wife, Louise; and a sister, Anita Mabry and her husband, Bennie.

She was a proud graduate of Seventy First High School and East Carolina University.  Lela taught seventh grade Math at John Griffin Middle School.  During her 20 years of teaching in Alabama and North Carolina, she influenced the lives of hundreds of students.  She was a recipient of the Region 4 Math School Team of the Year.

Lela was an avid reader, loved electronic games, crossword puzzles and sudoku.  She was an artist creating many beautiful items with crochet, cross stitch and knitting.  She loved traveling and while being a military wife she lived in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Alabama and North Carolina.

She is survived by her son, Timothy Scott Peterson (Donna) of Brandon, Miss.; sister, Mary Ann S. Johnson of Fayetteville; a brother, Billy Lamar Smith (Debra) of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; and many cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 2 pm Friday, January 18, 2019 in the chapel at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery with inurnment to follow.  The family will receive friends after the service at the home of her sister, Mary Ann Johnson.

A special thanks to the staff of Heritage Place Assisted Living and Amedisys Home Health and Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations on her behalf to John Griffin Middle School 1555 Fisher Rd. Fayetteville, NC 28304.

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