Close Menu
Douglas NowDouglas Now
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Community
  • Opinion
  • Obituaries
  • At Home with Pam
  • Contact
What's Hot

Two scoops please! Lady Patriots double dip David Emanuel Academy Eagles for second consecutive state championship

October 18, 2025

Vidalia Heritage Eagles overpower CCA Patriots 64-20 in a top 10 showdown

October 18, 2025

Houston County Bears defeat Trojans 45-21

October 17, 2025
Facebook Instagram YouTube TikTok
Trending
  • Two scoops please! Lady Patriots double dip David Emanuel Academy Eagles for second consecutive state championship
  • Vidalia Heritage Eagles overpower CCA Patriots 64-20 in a top 10 showdown
  • Houston County Bears defeat Trojans 45-21
  • Lady Patriots bounce back after tough loss, defeat Thomas Jefferson for a spot in the state championship game
  • Free train ride from New Hampshire lands two suspects in jail
Facebook YouTube Instagram TikTok Pinterest
Douglas NowDouglas Now
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Community
  • Opinion
  • Obituaries
  • At Home with Pam
  • Contact
Facebook YouTube Instagram TikTok
Douglas NowDouglas Now
Home»Community»A brief look at Benajah Peterson, one of Douglas’s founding fathers
Community

A brief look at Benajah Peterson, one of Douglas’s founding fathers

CaitlinBy CaitlinJuly 28, 202371 Views
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Email Copy Link
Follow Us
Facebook YouTube Instagram TikTok
Submitted photos
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Copy Link

If you’ve lived in Coffee County, you’ve probably heard of the last name Peterson at some point in your life. We have Peterson Hall at South Georgia State College as well as Peterson Avenue. However, what most don’t know is the history behind this last name and why it seems to hold importance to the local community. 

 

 

Benajah Peterson, born on April 10, 1860, was a local businessman and assisted in getting the city of Douglas up and on its feet. At one time, he even owned the lot of land that would eventually be chartered as a town in 1895 and as the city of Douglas in 1897. He married Vicey Kirkland at an early age and had two children, one who passed as an infant. 

 

 

The Petersons’ beautiful Douglas home was built in 1906. It was designed to be a stunning Victorian home close to the heart of town. This house still stands tall today and is what we now know as Sims Funeral Home. 

 

 

It is said that Benajah Peterson worked hard all his life and managed to rack up what was then considered to be a fortune and a vast amount of property. He also helped hundreds of locals through acts of charity and generosity. On the flip side, he was very serious about business, which even caused him to be criticized at times by his debtors. 

 

 

According to a memorial written about him after his death, Mr. Peterson was always approachable and ready to lend a helping hand when needed. It was this attitude that allowed him to help Douglas win the hard fight of gaining the location of the Agriculture School. It is also noted that he helped the city schools, assisted in building the local hospital, and donated to the churches and many local businesses. He had strong interests in city, county, and state politics and was once a councilman and mayor of Douglas. 

 

 

On Sunday, August 1, 1915, Mr. Peterson passed away after struggling with an illness for several months. It is said that at one point he was so sick that everyone thought he would pass at any moment. However, he pushed through and was well enough to appear in public again for a period of time. He even made some business transactions in his final days before succumbing to his illness. He left behind a grieving wife and son who, through his will, would be handed his financial affairs and properties. 

 

 

Mr. Peterson’s funeral was held at his home the day after he died, bringing in an impressive crowd of friends and family from Douglas and other cities. It is also said that members of the Elk’s Lodge, of which Benajah Peterson was a member, marched in a large body from the lodge room to the funeral service. He was buried at the Douglas City Cemetery and at the time, it was considered to be the largest crowd at a burial service in Douglas’s history. To show their respect to the life of Mr. Peterson, the local banks, businesses, and even the courthouse closed during the funeral service and most remained closed for the entire day. 

 

 

Douglas has recognized Benajah Peterson’s great accomplishments and amazing legacy by keeping his last name alive in various landmarks around the city. 

Benajah Peterson Douglas Georgia Peterson Avenue Peterson Hall Sims Funeral Home
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Copy Link
Douglas Now Profile Pic
Caitlin

Related Posts

Two scoops please! Lady Patriots double dip David Emanuel Academy Eagles for second consecutive state championship

October 18, 2025

Vidalia Heritage Eagles overpower CCA Patriots 64-20 in a top 10 showdown

October 18, 2025

Houston County Bears defeat Trojans 45-21

October 17, 2025

Comments are closed.

Top Posts

Convicted child molester allegedly gets drunk, lends truck to girlfriend, forgets and reports it stolen, then gets arrested for failure to register

February 19, 202574,292 Views

18 bodies in various states of decomposition found at funeral home during eviction process

October 27, 202468,053 Views

Dollar General employees catch 58-year-old female allegedly trying to pay for merchandise with movie money

August 27, 202567,085 Views

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

November 11, 202446,331 Views
RSS Latest Headlines from Fox News
  • Kamala Harris says Biden made 'big mistake' by not inviting Musk to EV event in 2021
  • Illinois State University teacher's assistant flips Turning Point USA table, tears down flyers: 'Jesus did it'
  • Protesters nationwide hold 'No Kings' rallies amid government shutdown
  • 'First to fight': Marine VP JD Vance marks Corps’ 250th as Hegseth says unity, not ‘diversity,' is strength
  • George Santos expresses gratitude to Trump following commutation of his 7-year prison sentence
Follow us on Social Media!
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • Pinterest
Facebook Instagram YouTube TikTok Pinterest
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Community
  • Opinion
  • Obituaries
  • At Home with Pam
  • Contact
© 2025 Coffee County Broadcasters, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Newell Media

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.