Barbara Ruth Morgan's Obituary
Rev. Dr. Barbara Ruth Morgan (Peterson) departed this life at Conyers, Georgia on May 7, 2017. She was born in Shelbyville, TN on August 20, 1949, the first child of five born to Jerry David Peterson, Sr. and Birtie Mae Peterson (Evans). She was married to William H. Morgan, and to this union one child was born, Yvette Michelle Morgan, who preceded her in death. Dr. Morgan started her Christian journey at the age of 13. She was baptized by Reverend Liner Miner, and became a member of Macedonia Baptist Church in Pontiac, MI. Dr. Morgan received her early education in Nashville, TN and Pontiac, MI, public schools, graduating from Pontiac Central High School in June 1965. Dr. Morgan was employed by the City of Pontiac, until she retired in 1983 due to a work related disability. While working for the city she earned her undergraduate degree from Oakland University, Rochester, MI and a Master's degree in Education from the University of Michigan with a certification in Training Adults in Non-School settings. Dr. Morgan moved to Conyers, GA after graduate school where she involved in a number of volunteer positions with the APEX Museum, The America Bible Society, Dollars for Scholars, and Church Women United. It was in Georgia where she united with the Amanda Flipper AME Church under the leadership of now Bishop Ronnie E. Brailsford, Sr., where she received her calling to become one of his first daughters in the ministry. This would lead to several ministerial positions, and the founding of her heart's work, a biblically based non-profit organization that she named "New Beginnings" to aid in training people who had been displaced by previous employers in the art of reinvention. Along with enabling it taught attendees to enhance their job skills, imparted basic biblical knowledge that could be used in cognitive thinking; aiding in better life decision making. Dr. Morgan is survived by Birtie M. Owens (mother), Jerry Peterson, Sr. (father), three brothers: Rev. Lawrence Evans (Maria), Jerry Peterson, Jr. (Darlene) and Stanley Peterson (Felicia), three sisters: Betty Chunn, Gloria Peterson, and Rose Owens. She is also survived by her niece JeVita Owens (Waterford, MI) who she raised and her five children: Julius Braswell, Yasmeen Tabbs, Genelle Tabbs, Ethan Tabbs and Domince Owens all of Waterford, MI. It was the fond memories of time spent with these great nephews and nieces that brought Barbara some solace in her final days. It was a well-known fact that Barbara immensely adored and loved her great nephews and nieces, who call her Auntie Nana, as their second grandmother. She also leaves her god-sons Michael Burns and Leroy Irving, god-daughters, Shelly Pinkard and Tonya Wilder, Brandi Pritchett-Johnson and Ashley Pritchett, plus a very special friend Pamela Strickland who stood with her through her illness, friends Gloria Peterson and Rose Owens, and a host of other relatives and friends.
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