James Lee "Budda" Peters

James Lee “Budda” Peters, 73 of Boones Mill, died peacefully Tuesday, September 27, 2022. James graduated from Franklin County High School in Rocky Mount, VA in 1967. After graduating high school, James went to work for Clements Ford Tractor in Rocky Mount, VA, while also beginning to serve part time in the United States Army Reserves, based out of Fort Pickett, VA. James was in the Reserves from 1967 – 1977. While serving, James earned an associate degree in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, VA in 1971. Soon after that, he went to work for GE in Salem, VA, where he worked in Engineering from 1972-1985. Desiring a more hands-on career, James went to work for Elizabeth Arden, later to become Cosmetics Essentials Inc., in 1985 in their maintenance department, where he continued to work until he retired from full time work in 2012.

What Budda enjoyed doing most was loading up and taking his antique John Deere tractors to competitive pulls all throughout Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. He was a founding member of the Southwestern Antique Tractor Association, spending many Saturday afternoons with his fellow members doing what they all loved, hooking up and see who could out pull one another. Budda cherished his time spent with his club family.

James was preceded in death by his parents, Lee Thomas Peters and Rachel Wray “Tootie” Peters of Boones Mill, VA; his two special great-aunts, Maggie Montgomery and Melva Montgomery, both of Roanoke, VA.

Surviving are his daughter, Daryn Leigh Peters, of Boones Mill, VA; his son, Jeffrey Thomas Peters, and daughter-in-law, Lori Messenger Peters, both of Rocky Mount, VA; and his grandson, Kyle Owen Peters, of Roanoke, VA; his step-granddaughter, Keira Ainsley Clemons. James is also survived by numerous lifelong friends from his time with GE, CEI, and the Southwestern Antique Tractor Association.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, October 6, 2022 at Flora Funeral Chapel. His family will receive friends 5-7 p.m. on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at Flora Funeral Service and Cremation Center, Rocky Mount.