Ann Peters

1937 - 2011

Ann Kilpatrick Peters

SHREVEPORT, LA- Funeral services celebrating the life of Ann Kilpatrick Peters, 74, will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 5, 2011 at Rose-Neath's Southside Chapel. Officiating will be Rev. McKee Williams and Rev. Clarence Chism. Visitation with the family will be from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday prior to the service at the funeral home.

Ann was born on March 28, 1937, in Shreveport, LA and died December 2, 2011 after a lengthy illness. At the age of nine, she joined the junior choir of her hometown church and became aware of herself as a singer and of the compelling power that music would have all of her life. She had her first voice lessons while still in high school, majored in music at Louisiana State University and, after graduation, continued her musical education at the Aspen School of Music. Ann had a musical purity and artistic integrity seldom found in singers of any age. She spent her professional career as a mezzo-soprano in New York City where she appeared at the Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center and the City Opera of New York. Her repertoire included Opera, Oratorio, Recital and Chamber music. Contemporary works in which Ann appeared as soloist with the Mid-America Chorale include "Trois Beaux Oiseaux du Paradis," "Sept Chansons" and "Rechants" to name a few. Ann was known as a gifted and versatile singer and was equally at home in Handel's "Messiah," in the St. Matthew Passion of Bach, Bizet's "Carmen," "Der Rosenkavalier" and "Madame Butterfly." In addition to opera, Ann traveled with the national touring companies of several Broadway musicals. Also, with her dear friend John Shenaut conducting, she played the lead in "La Cenerentola" for the Shreveport Opera. She was co-owner and a Director of both Kilpatrick Life Insurance Company and Kilpatrick's Rose-Neath Funeral Homes. Following her retirement from performing, she continued her support of the arts in New York and Shreveport. Ann had a great love for nature and gardening. In addition to her passion for raising ducks, geese and chickens which she shared with nephew Andy, Ann would also rescue, care for, and rehabilitate wild birds.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lonnie Benjamin and Nell Peters Kilpatrick and brother-in-law, William Peyton Shehee, Jr. Left to cherish her memory is her sister, Virginia Kilpatrick Shehee; nieces, Shane Shehee, Nell Shehee Kramer and husband, Graham and Margaret Shehee Cole and husband, David; nephew, Andrew Shehee, and numerous cousins.

Honoring Ann as pallbearers are Max Corley, David Cole, Charley Demming, James Grant, Graham Kramer, Jimmy Reeves and Albert Reyes. Serving as honorary pallbearers are the employees of Kilpatrick's Rose-Neath Funeral Homes, Kilpatrick Life Insurance Company, and dear friends, Allison Miller Moncla and Patricia Ann Peyton.

The family would like to extend special thanks to her caregivers Elizabeth Reed, Kiesha Pouncy, Tara Ford and Rutina Thomas. The family suggests that memorials may be made to the Ann Peters Foundation, 470 Ashley Ridge Blvd. Shreveport, LA 71106.