Vernon William Peterson departed this life on May 28, 2018 at his home in Middleburg, Va.

Vernon was born on March 13, 1931 to the late Louis Adam and Mary Magdalene Peterson in Bluemont, VA.  He was the sixth of thirteen children born in that family.  Vernon was educated in the Loudoun County Public School System.  He accepted Christ as his savior and became a faithful member of Austin Grove United Methodist Church as a young boy under the leadership of Reverend Otis Jasper.  After completion of high school he enlisted in the US Army and served during the Korean War from 1951-1953.

After he served his time in the Army he returned home, but was unable to find employment so he decided to go live in Washington, DC with his older brother Ralph.  After sometime there with Ralph he chose to move to New Jersey with his brother Pete and was employed at a Plastic Factory.  While in Jersey, Vernon's sister Florence received a letter from their mom saying that things were not good back here at home because his father had broken his leg and was not able to work.  He immediately called home and spoke with their mother.  He informed her that he was coming home, and that she would see him the next day.  Vernon arrived home and began his life's work of taking care of his family.

For Vernon, taking care of his family included those living and those who had passed on.  Vernon visited Rockhill Cemetery and saw how overgrown it had become.  He got a group of boys together to clean it up, and he continued taking care of that cemetery for 63 years, making Rockhill Cemetery one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the county.  This memorial weekend was the first one he's missed since 1955.

In addition to the love and care for the cemetery, Vernon had a love for music, especially quartet singing.  He first started singing with a quartet as a teenager on the school bus in a group called the Tolbert Jubilees in the mid 40's.  In the 60's he was the lead singer of the gospel group, Five Echoes; and he also sang with the gospel group, Gospel Descenders in the early 1970's.

Over the years, Vernon worked for several companies including Northern VA Millwork, Middleburg Millwork, Whitener & Jackson, and finally retiring in 1995 as the first black construction inspector for Fairfax County Public Schools.

While working for Whitener & Jackson, Vernon took the job of ensuring that the neighborhood boys had jobs during the summer and after graduating from school.  Some whom have worked for this company for nearly 40 years now.

Like his father, Vernon had a love for children; taking in any child that he felt needed help or was in distress, claiming that all children deserve the best.

Vernon and Sharon started their journey together 33 years ago raising their two boys William and Reginald.

Vernon leaves to cherish his loving memories, his wife Sharon; two daughters, Mary and Janis; three sons, James, William, and Reginald; three sisters, Axie Johnson, Gloria Green, and Ellen (Howard) Brewer; two brothers, Garner Peterson and Joe (Bennie) Peterson; one daughter-in-law Celeste (Grafton-deceased); three sister-in-laws, Doris (Sherman-deceased), Linda Brooks, and Lois Smith; one brother-in-law, Michael Berryman; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Vernon was preceded in death by his father Louis and mother Mary; six brothers; Ralph, Louis II, Irvin, Sherman, Jerry and Jack; one sister, Florence; two sons, Grafton and Albert; two granddaughters, Carla and Erin.

Vernon was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, and grandfather.  Although known for his tough nature, he had a heart of gold.  He will be dearly missed by many.