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.