My Journey Towards Serving the Community

As an adopted twin, I was raised by my parents, the late Dr. Leotis Peterman from Abbeville, Alabama, and the late Lucy Bell Peterman Lane from Birmingham, Alabama. They instilled in me and my twin sister the importance of education, community service, and the value of working hard to achieve our goals.

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Every year, we would visit the campgrounds in Selma, Alabama. My father served as a deacon, while my mother played the organ at the Historic First Baptist Church on North Ripley Street in Montgomery, Alabama. In 1985, our family relocated to Nashville, where we lived on the Historic Fisk University Campus. My father continued his role as a deacon, and my mother became the church organist at the Historic First Baptist Church Capitol Hill in Downtown Nashville. I witnessed my parents' dedication as educators, with my father holding the position of Chief Financial Officer at Fisk University and my mother serving as the Head Librarian at Hillsboro High School.

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Tragically, I lost both of my parents during my formative years as a student at Tennessee State University.

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At the young age of 19, I became a mother, balancing college at Tennessee State University while raising two baby boys just 11 months apart and working full-time. Upon finishing my undergraduate studies, I embarked on my graduate degree, all while juggling work and raising my children. My determination to gain both education and professional experience fueled my efforts throughout this journey.

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I began my career in accounts receivable and accounts payable at Vanderbilt University Patient Accounting. I then interned in Human Resources with the Federal Government at the U.S. Geological Survey, where I discovered my passion for serving others and improving processes and procedures. My career progressed in management roles at Shoney’s Inc., HCA, the State of Tennessee, and Mercy Health Services.

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I have had the unique opportunity to work in both public and private sectors, which has allowed me to gain a diverse range of knowledge. This experience has shaped my creative and open-minded management style when it comes to working with people and processes.

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I am truly enthusiastic about continuing my role as Register of Deeds in local government, where I have effectively utilized my skills and knowledge to serve the residents of our city.