Frankie Nell Peters

Frankie Nell Horton Peters passed away peacefully at her Clinton, MS home at the age of 100. She was born in Sontag, MS, and spent her childhood on a farm outside of Brookhaven, MS.

She was married to James Rudolph Peters of Mashulaville, MS, from 1952 until James’s death in 2010. The couple lived in Shuqualak, MS, then moved to Metairie, LA, in 1958 and made their home there for over 50 years. In 2006, after Hurricane Katrina, they moved to Clinton, MS.

From the first day she walked into a classroom Nell loved school. She graduated top of her class from Heucks Retreat School in Lincoln County, MS, and went on to earn an associate’s degree from Clarke College in Newton, MS; a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi College in Clinton, MS; and a master’s degree from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA.

Nell started teaching at Heucks Retreat School at age 18. Over the course of her career she taught in several schools in Mississippi and Louisiana until retiring at age 76 from East Jefferson High School in Jefferson Parish, LA. In addition to teaching classes, she often served as faculty advisor for the school newspaper, yearbook, and Honor Society.

Nell was a devout Christian from a young age. She always joined and served in a local Baptist church wherever she was living, including Holly Springs Baptist Church in Lincoln County, MS; Metairie Baptist Church in Metairie, LA; and Wildwood Baptist Church in Clinton, MS. She faithfully served in many capacities in church, most notably as Sunday School and VBS teacher. One of her great joys was singing alto in the choir.

Nell was known by all to be an extraordinarily caring and generous woman. As a teacher, she would not accept a student’s failing grade. Instead, she gave of her time to tutor students, then offered them extra chances to retake tests to raise their grades. James’s and Nell’s home was always open to family, friends, and even total strangers who needed a place to stay. When a fifth-grade student’s mother passed away, Nell took the child under her wing so that Nell’s children thought of her as another sister. The whole family stayed close to her into her adult life. These are just a few of many, many examples of Nell’s gracious nature.

In her spare time Nell was an avid reader, gardener, traveler, and photographer. She faithfully followed several sports teams, from the junior high and high school teams where she taught to the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves.

Nell was preceded in death by her parents, Carl Thomas Horton and Mary Miller Horton; her husband, James Rudolph Peters; her brothers, Roy, Virgil, and Homer Horton; her sister, Virgie Horton; and a grandson, Sean Peters.

She is survived by her children Mary Nell Schneller, Ruth Eavenson (Wright), David Peters, Frank Peters (Tina); grandchildren Judie Hahn (Lance), Daniel Eavenson, Timothy Eavenson (Katie), and Ashley Peters; great-grandchildren Lucas, Levi, Liam, and Ellie Hahn and Leo, Lola, and Cruz Eavenson; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family.

A visitation will be held for Nell on Thursday, July 30, at 3:00 p.m. at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home, 106 Cynthia Street, Clinton, MS, with a service following at 4:00 p.m. A graveside service will be held Friday, July 31, 1:00 p.m., at Mashulaville Baptist Church, 4515 MS-490, Macon, MS.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Billy Graham Association or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.