Savannah- Lee Augustus Petersen was born on November 12, 1931 in St. Croix, US, Virgin Islands to the late Peter and Anita Petersen.

Lee was the eldest of four siblings and left home in 1948 at the age of 17 to claim his manhood by enlisting in the United States Armed Services using a fictitious age 18. He served a 3 year term in the Korean War and ranked Sergeant. After completing his duties in the infantry, he was transferred to the Reserves for 5 years until his release in 1957. In honor of his service, he was awarded the Korean Service Metal, One Bronze Service Star, a National Defense Service Metal, a Combat Infantry Badge, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and a United Nations Service Metal.

After being released from the Army, Lee moved to New York City and married Geneva Maria Petersen, his beloved wife for 42 years. In New York City, he attended Robert Lewis Stevenson and earned his General Equivalency Diploma GED. Lee worked in a Machine Shop making Aircraft Parts, at New York Veterans Hospital as a Dietitian and simultaneously, with the New York City Transit Authority and the New York City Board of Education, until his retirement in 2001. He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church and a generous donor to a host of charities.

Lee was person of courage, strength and honor as he cared and provided for his family no matter the circumstance. He was a man of few words however, full of wisdom. He will greatly be missed by friends and family. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife Geneva Maria Petersen; son, Anthony Augustus Petersen; siblings, Eugenia Williams and Elias Petersen.

He leaves to cherish his memory: children, Ann Aleta Hunter and Andre Petersen; grandchildren, Damany Hunter , Kai Hunter , Balewa Hunter Dyanne, Shamika Petersen Gary and LaDonnia Petersen; great grand children, Jelani, Kaliyah, Madison and Kennedy; Sister, Corlina Redman Cecil. Nieces, Yvonne, Cheryl, Mona and Eleanor; Great Grand Nieces, Naomi and Allison; Great Grand Nephews, Eric and Greg; special friends former co-workers, Flossie and Green; great grand nieces, nephews and friends.

A Graveside Service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at Beaufort National Cemetery, The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Islands Chapel.

You are now one with God, Eternal Peace is now yours
Dad, PaPete, Uncle Lee, Pete

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