Donna May Davis Petersen

AIKEN, SC -- Donna May Davis Petersen, died Monday, September 21, 2009 in North Augusta, South Carolina, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born to the late Pearl C. and Doris Davis on August 1, 1931, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Donna received a degree in education from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1953. In school, she excelled in field hockey, and was later inducted into the Ohio Wesleyan Hall of Fame in 1986. It was in college that she met her loving husband of 56 years, J. Stewart Petersen. They moved to Aiken, South Carolina after their marriage in 1953. Donna was a teacher in several Aiken schools. She was also an excellent golfer, and was very active in the Highland Park and Houndslake Country Club Women’s Golf Associations. Donna was very involved in the Women’s Eastern Golf Association tournaments that were held annually in Aiken. Donna was a longtime member of St. John’s United Methodist Church, where she coached many of the Church basketball teams. Donna was a devoted wife, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and friend. Her kindness to others and her love of life will continue to inspire all of us who knew and loved her. In addition to her husband, J. Stewart, Donna is survived by her sister, Lucy Gidlof (Lee), of Grapeview, Washington. She is also survived by her five children: Doug Petersen of Charleston, SC; Anne Comer (David) of North Augusta, SC; Kristen Krabath (Paul) of Charlotte, NC; David Petersen (Julie) of Aiken, SC; and Nancy King (Kevin) of Atlanta, GA; her ten grandchildren (Davis Petersen, Grace Petersen, Ben Comer, Mike Comer, Sarah Comer, Scott Krabath, Meghan Petersen, Caroline Petersen, Justin King and Spencer King), and many nieces and nephews, including Dee Townsend-McCall (Frank) and Nate Townsend (Rebecca) of Seattle, Washington. The family will receive friends on Thursday, September 24 from 6pm until 8pm at Shellhouse - Rivers Funeral Home at 715 East Pine Log Road, Aiken, SC. A Celebration of Life service will be held at St. John’s United Methodist Church on Friday, September 25 at 2pm, with the Rev. Dr. George K. Howle officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be Richard and Charlotte Baxter, John and Jan Clark, Lauren and Melba Fair, James and Paula Maxwell, Charles and Gwen Mettlen, Jim and Betty Minear, Tom and Jeannie Osborne, Joe and Doe Pendleton, Richard and Arlene Philipp, and Tom and Pat Roberts. If so desired, the family is requesting that donations be made in memory of Donna Petersen to St. John’s United Methodist Church (104 Newberry Street NW, Aiken, SC 29801) or The American Cancer Society (Augusta Office, 2607 Commons Boulevard, Augusta, GA 30909). To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donna May Davis Petersen, please visit our flower store.