BORN NOVEMBER 10, 1930, IN LONGTOWN MISSISSIPPI TO THE LATE ALTON EPPENGER SR. AND BEULER JOINER EPPENGER. SHE WAS THE FOURTH DAUGHTER OF SIX CHILDREN BORN INTO THIS UNION.

SHE RELOCATED TO MEMPHIS, TN, TO LIVE WITH VIOLA JORDAN AND FAMILY GROWING UP WITH AN EXTENDED FAMILY BRANCH THAT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. SHE ACCEPTED CHRIST AT AN EARLY AGE, SHE WAS A DEVOTED MEMBER OF PENTECOSTAL TEMPLE COGIC.

AS A YOUNG ADULT, SHE MOVED TO ATLANTIC CITY, NJ., WHERE SHE WORKED AS A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL. LATER SHE RELOCATED TO CLEVELAND OH., WHERE SHE MET AND MARRIED RICHARD "PEETE" PETERSON. AFTER THE PASSING OF HER HUSBAND, SHE MOVED BACK TO MEMPHIS, TN, BECAME A MEMBER OF GREATER MOUNT PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH. JUANITA HAD A PASSION FOR COSMETOLOGY. SHE WORKED AS A COSMETOLOGIST UNTIL HER RETIREMENT. SHE LOVED MAKING PEOPLE LOOK AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES. SHE WAS A GREAT LISTENER, CONFIDANT AND ADVOCATE FOR HER LOVED ONES.

ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP PEOPLE NO MATTER THE REASON OR SITUATION. JUANITA'S DOORS TO HER HOME WERE ALWAYS OPEN, NO MATTER WHAT TIME OF DAY OR NIGHT. SHE NICKNAMED HER HOME "THE HOUSE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD" WHERE HER LOVED ONES WERE ALWAYS WELCOMED AND THERE WAS ALWAYS PLENTY OF FOOD. A FRESH, CLEAN, COMFORTABLE BED WAS WAITING. SHE WOULD EVEN GIVE UP HER OWN BED AND SLEEP IN THE GUEST ROOM TO ACCOMMODATE FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

JUANITA WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HER LOVING HUSBAND RICHARD "PEETE" PETERSON, (THE BBQ MASTER), HER PARENTS, ALTON EPPENGER SR AND BUELER JOINER EPPENGER, HER SIBLINGS, LEE VOIN EPPENGER OLIVER, IONA EPPENGER MICKENS, FRANCIS EPPENGER DUKES, NANCY EPPENGER WEBB, AND ALTON EPPENGER JR., THE EXTENDED FAMILY, LURSHIRE JORDAN JR, REGINALD JORDAN, JUANITA BAILEY, CLARA JONES, IDA BELLE BRACEY, LEOLA RENIX, DORA CASWELL. JEAN ALLEN, OF NEW JERSEY. HER ARKANSAS CONNECTION, DOROTHY GRIDIRON.

SHE LEAVES TO CHERISH HER MEMORY HER DAUGHTER, VICKI (JOE) GIBSON OF HOLLY SPRINGS NC, HER SON, KEITH (ROSIE) EPPENGER OF MEMPHIS TN TN. TWO GRANDSONS: RYAN CARDALE (URSULA) EPPENGER OF JACKSONVILLE, FL, ROBERT BOBBY (CHRISTINA) EPPENGER OF FAYETTEVILLE, NC, AND A GRANDDAUGHTER:

NATIA (JASON) CLIFTON OF MAGNOLIA, DE, A NUMBER GREAT GRANDCHILDREN, GREAT GREAT GRANDCHILDREN,SISTER, DENICE HAWKINS AND A SPECIAL NIECE/DAUGHTER LOWESTINE EPPENGER-JOHNSON BOTH OF MEMPHIS, SPECIAL COUSIN, DOROTHY HOLT, FRIEND, MARIE ROCKAMORE, EMERY AND MICHAEL HAINES OF NEW JERSEY AND A HOST OF NIECES, NEPHEWS, RELATIVES AND FRIENDS.

THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE FRIENDS FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024 FROM 10:00AM-11:55AM WITH A CELEBRATION OF LIFE TO FOLLOW AT 12:00 NOON BOTH WILL BE HELD AT WALLS CHAPEL COGIC 526 GEORGE RD, MEMPHIS, TN 38109.

INTERNMENT WILL BE IN NEW PARK CEMETERY 4536 HORN LAKE RD, MEMPHIS, TN 38109