Jan. 4, 2005 — A funeral service will take place Wednesday for Claudette Petersen who died Dec. 28 after a long illness. Petersen was widely known as a staunch advocate for child education and a member of the Board of Education. Petersen is best remembered in the community for her community activism, dedication to the improvement of education for children and willingness to go the extra mile to get the job done.
In a press release dated Dec. 28, Harry Daniels, chairman of the Board of Education, extolled Petersen's contribution to the children of the territory and her exemplary service on the board. Petersen was a member of the 14th elected Board of Education. Her four -year term began in 2000 and would have expired at the end of 2004.
According to Daniels, Petersen took her community activism and desire for a better education system for children to where she believed she could do the most good – as a member of the board of Education. Daniels said Petersen was a familiar voice on radio talk shows making her opinions known, but her activism went much farther than that. "She did not just believe in making noise," Daniels wrote, "She wanted to change the system."
Daniels said he would remember Petersen as she lived "a passionate woman committed to her ideals and outspoken in her convictions."
Petersen, 54, is survived by her husband, Geraldo, daughters Kizma, Eartha and Icah and son Iam.
A viewing will be held at 9 a.m. at the Lord God of Sabbath Lutheran Church, followed by a funeral service at 10 a.m. Internment will follow at Kingshill Cemetery. The family requests that festive colors be worn. Professional services are being handled by the James Memorial Funeral Home.