Mrs. Lillian Coplin Peterson departed this life on September 10, 2018.  She was born on July 4, 1934 to the late Mr. Robert Coplin, Sr. and Mrs. Rosa Brewer Coplin of Sumter, SC. She was also the widow of the late 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 on the choir

Lillian leaves to honor her and her memory her two sons, Mr. William T. Peterson, Jr. of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Kenneth Peterson of Inman, South Carolina; one sister, Mrs. Eartha Perry of Sumter, South Carolina; 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, Ms. Janie Peterson; two brothers-in-law, Mr. Ulysses Perry and Mr. Dave Rogers; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Public Viewing will be held on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 from 2-6pm at Job's Mortuary; family will receive friends at Job's Mortuary Wednesday, September 19, 2018 from 6-7pm.

Mrs. Peterson will be placed in the church on Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 2:30pm for viewing until the hour of service.

Funeral Services will be held at 3:30pm on Thursday, September 20, 2018 at St. Luke AME Church 2355 N St. Pauls Church Road Sumter, SC, with Rev. George Brown, Officiating and Rev. Caesar Richburg, Eulogist.

Interment will follow in Evergreen Memorial Park.

Family will receive friends at the home, 23 Neal Street Sumter, SC.