Arvella L. Gaines Peters was born on May 27, 1941 in Stroud, Oklahoma
to the parentage of Willie C. Gaines and Valeria Yeldell. She was the
second oldest of seven children. She accepted Christ at an early age and
was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church in Stroud, Oklahoma
until moving to Dallas, Texas in 1965 where she became a member of the
Allen Chapel Baptist Church.

She received her high school diploma from Stroud High School and soon
after met and married Sanford J. Peters, Sr. They were married for 60
years and during this union four children were born, Claudette, Sanford
Jr., Ronell and Thomas (deceased).

Arvella loved God, her family and friends. She enjoyed cooking and
sewing, arts and crafts, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, watching sports
and much, much more. Her favorite sports teams were the OU Sooners,
Dallas Cowboys and LA Lakers. But her favorite enjoyment was
supporting her children in their many extra curricular activities. No one
was a stranger in her home. She was a mother to many and made sure
that everyone that came to her home felt welcomed and enjoyed a good
meal.

She began her career with the Dallas Veterans Medical Center in 1967 as
a Nursing Assistant and later was selected as the first echocardiography
technician and remained in that position till she retired in 2003 after
36 years due to health reasons. She was an instructor for many Echo
seminars and was instrumental in training many technicians and
cardiologists throughout the United States. She was acknowledged in
multiple medical journals for her technical assistance in cardiology
research studies during her career.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, Donald,
Herbert and Victor and the recent loss a sister, Loretta.
She leaves to cherish her memories her husband, Sanford Peters, Sr,
Children: Claudette Phillips (LeRoi), Sanford Peters, Jr. (Carolyn),
Ronell Peters (Felecia). Sisters: Alice White (Henry(deceased)) and
Willie C. Pegues (Edgar) Grandchildren: Ashley Peters, Sanford "Tre"
Peters, III, Chance Peters, Kamesha (Jonathan(deceased)) Andrews,
Temeka (Sheldon) Washington, Thomas "T" Peters, II (Ashley), Cheree
Peters, Leigha Phillips, Lauren Wright (David), Isaiah Peters, Victoria
Peters, Daniel Peters and fourteen great grandchildren and a host of
nieces, nephews, friends and other loved ones