Iris Alease

Peters

God, in His infinite wisdom, called home Iris Alease Chapman Peters, on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Alease, as she was known to most family and friends in King & Queen County, or Iris, as she was known in Richmond, was born October 20, 1932, in Plain View, Va., to the late Alex H. Chapman and Estelle W. Chapman. The youngest of the Chapman family, she was preceded in death by her only sister, Alice Chapman Hall, and brothers Hansford, Peyton, Johnny, Joseph (Joe), Howard and James (Jimmy).

Alease professed her faith and joined the Union Prospect Baptist Church at an early age and was a lifelong member. She was a proud graduate of Beverly Allen High School in West Point, Va. Following graduation, she went to San Diego, Ca., to live with her oldest brother Hansford to attend business school.

Prepared for her chosen profession, Alease returned to Virginia to work as a typist. She was employed several years at R.L. Polk & Company in the St. Luke Building in Historic Jackson Ward.

Her first marriage gave Alease her first daughter, Yvette F. Reid. The second time was the charm when she met and married Karl W. Peters. This marriage gave Alease the baby daughter, like herself, Karla E. Peters. She also became a member of the Wives and Widows of Commonwealth Lodge No. 81.

Life's greatest joy to Alease was being a wife, mother and grandmother who provided a loving home to her family from near and far. She practically raised her grandson Devon from the age of 7, when she became a widow, even taking him on an adventure to San Diego to visit her brother Hansford. She was known as an exceptional cook who baked the best fruit cake, raisin cake, brownies, apple pie, and butternut squash pie. But she was called on to make her famous pound cake and hot buttered rolls, feeding everyone from starving students at the University of Richmond to employees and chiefs of police for the City of Richmond.

As the baby of the family, Alease kept in close contact with all of her siblings. She and Jimmy were two peas in a pod. Her bond was so strong late in life with Joe, whom she talked to every day, that the morning he died she tried to slip away with him and had to have emergency surgery to install a pacemaker in 2014. Thanks to Dr. Matthew Ngo, her cardiologist, Alease enjoyed more than a decade more of life, and we are grateful.

When Alzheimer's disease tried to dim the light of Alease, with Karla as her personal chauffer (because "I ain't riding no bus"), she became an active participant at South Richmond Adult Day Care and enjoyed her friends and activities there. She was featured in a magazine for senior living as a glowing example of aging gracefully. Special thanks to former Executive Director Saundra Rollins, Nurse Francine Griffis and Sister Cora Marie Billings.

Throughout life's journey, Alease maintained her walk with the Lord and became a watchcare member of the Moore Street Missionary Baptist Church in Richmond. Her Moore Street family was very fond of "Sister Peters" and with her throughout her later years, praying with her in her last days. Special thanks to Dr. Alonza Lawrence, pastor, Dr. Roberta Walker and Minister Langston Logan.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, glaucoma stole Alease's eyesight. Her ability to walk also diminished. Not willingly, she became a resident at Westport Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. That is where Alease departed this life. Special thanks to Nurse Tanjy, Nurse Tiffany, Nurse Donna and Nurse Dee for their care.

Precious memories of Alease will live forever in the hearts and minds of daughters, Karla and Yvette, grandson Devon, great-granddaughters Ashleigh, Jade and Avery, nephew-sons Michael, Atif (Mann), Kirkwood, Homer, Ralph, niece-daughters, Roslyn, Gale, Donna, Henny, Deborah (Sandi), Alice, Jennifer, Armandtine, Jewell and Peggy, first cousins Joyce and Leonard, several great-nieces and great-nephews, "Mama's Girls" – Odetta, Freda, Darlene, Satara, Wilma, Delores, Glenda, Selena, Suzanne, Gloria, Mildred, Shalimar, Denise, Valerie, Tracey, April, Sandra, Joyce, Raquel, Laurie, Tammie, Bonnie, Grace, Janice, Sherry, Dorothy, Niya, Nikki, Trish, Linda, Sybil and Shirley, "Mama's Guys" – Rob, Jeff, Chris, Kevin, Al, Ron, Vernon,  Wil, Gates, Ben, Ronald, Fred, John, J. Morgan, Anthony, Billy, Brandon, Nelson, Montgomery, Thom and Darrell, the men of Commonwealth Lodge No. 81, the women of the Richmond Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and so many other relatives and friends.

Remains rest at Scott's Funeral Home, 115 E. Brookland Park Blvd., where viewing will be held from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 23, 2025, followed by the family receiving friends 6 p.m.until 7 p.m. at Scott's Chapel, 116 E. Brookland Park Blvd. Funeral services will be held 12 p.m. Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Union Prospect Baptist Church, 1380 Stratton Major Road, Shacklefords, Va. 23156, with Dr. Jeffery O. Smith officiating and Dr. Alonza L. Lawrence as the eulogist. Interment in the church cemetery.