Jesse Peter Cleveland

Pete was born in Elberton, Georgia, on January 10, 1932 – one of six children to Arthur and Jessie Cleveland. Pete spent his younger years in Elberton before moving to Bordentown, New Jersey, for a few years. His family then moved to Washington D.C.

Pete graduated from Anacostia High School in Washington D.C. in 1949. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1951, where he served for 13 years on assignments as a medical laboratory technician in Okinawa, Georgia, and Alabama. He then went on to work for the Veterans Administration as a hospital administrator, which included stints in Lake City, Florida; St. Petersburg, Florida; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and finally, Washington D.C.

In 1954, Pete met the love of his life, Laura Jean Lowe. They eloped and were married in Ridgeland, South Carolina, on July 21, 1954. Pete and Laura were blessed with their first son, Tommy, in 1957, followed by their daughter, Sharon, in 1962, and their younger son, Mike, in 1963. In 1970, Pete was able to return home when he was assigned to the VA Hospital in Washington D.C. Pete and Laura settled in New Carrollton, Maryland, to finish raising their children. Pete was a total family man and a lover of sports. In his spare time he was known to help coach his kids’ baseball teams, attend the Washington Capitals hockey games, and was on a competitive bowling league - even holding an impressive average of 197 at one point!

With their children grown and moved out of the house, Pete and Laura moved to Selbyville, Delaware, to enjoy retired life in October 1993. After the arrivals of his six grandchildren, Pete, and Laura, would forever be known as “Mama and Papa”. Mama and Papa did not let their age stop them from any adventure, especially with their grandchildren. They spent their summers on the bay waters of Delaware, taking daily boat rides, baiting crab pots, cooking crabs, and soaking in time with their family. Papa was a great cook, especially when it came to breakfast. Every summer, when all 14 of his family members were packed into the beach house, it was an “expectation” that Papa would wake up early one of those mornings and have SOS simmering on the stove for all to enjoy - a Cleveland family delicacy. He loved taking his grandkids to pick peaches at the local orchard. He was known to take his pocket knife out and cut a peach right there in the middle of the field, handing out slices to everyone.

Papa loved camping. After spending the summer in Delaware and holidays with their kids in Maryland and West Virginia, Mama and Papa would load up their RV to spend their winters in Georgia visiting family and friends. One of Papa’s favorite places to camp was Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where they would meet their children and grandchildren every year for their annual Easter break trip. He never really slowed down his traveling, even up until 3 years ago, when he moved from Maryland to Florida to be close to his sons.
Pete was truly one of a kind and will be missed immensely, but his hardworking nature and generosity will live on in those closest to him. To borrow words inscribed on his own mother’s gravestone, he “gave so much but demanded so little.”

Pete was predeceased by his beloved wife, Laura Jean Cleveland; beloved daughter, Sharon Cleveland Reith; parents, Arthur and Jessie Cleveland; brothers Jack and Richard; and sisters, Geraldine, Dorothy, and Gretchen. Pete is survived by his two loving sons, Mike and Tommy; loving daughters-in-law, Stacey and Judy; loving son-in-law, John Reith; and loving grandchildren, Melissa, Greg, Amanda, Colleen, Kelly, and Diana.

Celebration of Life will be 5:00 p.m. Sunday, February 2, 2025 at Settle-Wilder Funeral Home, with Bill Kitchens, Halifax Health Hospice, officiating. Friends will be received from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 2, 2025 at Settle-Wilder Chapel.

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