Carroll Martin Peterson

A Life Well Lived.

On January 31, 1942 Carroll Martin Peterson was born unexpectedly to astonished parents an hour after his twin sister. News of his arrival spread swiftly through the hospital in Rahway, Union County N.J. The news went something like “There’s another one in there!” Perhaps that explains why he always loved to jump out from behind doors and scare the living daylights out of people. The very first image we have of him is lying beside his twin sister with a big, broad grin that could light up everyone that saw it. That smile, accompanied very often with mischief, and even sometimes through heartache, was his signature characteristic.

As a restless teen, he was shipped off - as he would put it - to Church Farm School in Exton, Pennsylvania which was a private boys' school for kids from broken homes. The 5 years he spent there was the making of the man who I came to know as my best friend and husband. And the stories he created there among his classmates came up year after year as these men gathered through each passing decade to reflect and reconnect.

It has been said that when skill and love work together, expect a masterpiece. Carroll Martin Peterson was a masterpiece. The outpouring of love and support and memories from family and friends testify to his generosity with his gifts of skilled workmanship, patient love, and consistent joy in all things. God must have loved us, his wife, his daughters, his sisters, his stepchildren, grands, and greats to have given us a life with one of His very best men.

Most local people will remember him as Mr. Peterson, counselor Coosa High, and Pepperell Primary or Deacon First Baptist Church of Rome, or volunteer at Community Kitchen and on many Habitat for Humanity building projects. There are so many stories of love and service to tell that this tiny column of words cannot possibly convey even a fraction of them. His was a life well-lived. May it be said of us all.

And because Carroll was a genealogy enthusiast, I include the names of those that were lucky enough to call him, son, husband, dad, and “Carroll Pop”. Parents Martha Blanke Peterson and Peter C. Peterson; Wife, Miriam Brock Peterson; his daughters from his first marriage: Karen Martin, (Kevin) Absecon, New Jersey; Joyce Greenwood, (Mike) Summerdale, New Jersey; twin sister, Carolyn Mostek, (Butch) Springville, Pennsylvania; younger sister Lois-Anne Barnes, Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey; stepson, Tim Gowens, (Valerie) Kennesaw, Georgia; and many grands and great grands, nieces and nephews who all remain close and connected through the love God gave him to share.

Carroll went to his eternal home on 2/18/2023 and those left behind will have a celebration of his life on March 3, 2023 at 10 a.m. at Frist Baptist Church, Rome, Ga. Donations to honor Carroll may be made to any of the ministries he supported with many hours of work and service, such as: The Davies Shelters (Daviesshelters.com), Bridges out of Poverty Program (FBCRome.com), Habitat for Humanity Coosa Valley (Habitat.org).