Marcianna Jean Peters

Marcianna Jean Peters was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on July 23, 1972 to William Donald Peters and Sharon Kay Williams. She grew up across the street from her grandma, Juanita, on Staples Street. Marcie enjoyed family cookouts and riding her bike with her cousins. They enjoyed water fights, which she loved the most, and running through her grandma’s sprinkler in the front yard.

Marcie attended South Middle School where, through his sister, she met the love of her life. Rueben would go to the school to walk his sister, Rosa, home. It was then that she first saw him. He stole Marcie’s school picture from Rosa because he thought she was the most gorgeous girl in the world. He made a poster with the stolen picture on it and gave it to his sister to give to Marcie. Three days later, he rode his moped to the school but sent his sister away with it so he could walk Marcie home. Rueben and Marcie would eventually meet at a lock-in at Roller World where Rueben would make his first move and kiss her. The rest is history.

Marcie and Rueben officially started dating on October 13, 1984. They began building their family in 1990. They had three children: Chelsie Marie Hernandez, Tashiena Marie Hernandez, and Rueben Victor-Frederick Hernandez. Marcie was a fiercely dedicated mom; not only to her three children, but to multiple other children throughout the years. She opened her home to her children’s friends, giving them a safe environment where they could be kids. Family always came first to Marcie. She would provide care for, and tend to, her husband and children, providing love, support, stability, and even discipline when needed. Marcie loved to entertain her children with coloring books, word searches, board games, singing, music, and dance-offs. Weekends were often begun by blasting the stereo, which told the kids it was time to clean the house. In the summertime, when Rueben did not have to work, she would pack a picnic and they would spend the day as a family at Sunset Lake.

In her later years, when her children were older, she looked forward to holidays and family dinners where she could get them all together to make memories. She planned who cooked what and she made sure to make arrangements so that everyone could be present. Her favorite holidays were Independence Day, Halloween, and Christmas. She enjoyed watching her husband blow up the sky with her close family members. She enjoyed seeing her grandchildren dressed up in costumes to receive their candy bags she and Rueben made. She loved decorating her porch and house with Christmas lights. Shopping was her favorite part. She would always say “you wouldn’t believe what I got you, for a good deal, too”, and never tell. She always had a smile and she was filled with laughs. 

In her last few years, she continued to do the things she loved with the people she loved the most. She was always talking to one of her children, or her niece, Amber, on the phone. Her favorite part of the day was lunch time, when she would talk to her love on the phone. She made sure to keep her family together. She was the glue. Her nights were spent eating dinner and talking with her husband while they watched their shows.

Marcianna passed away on November 11, 2023, surrounded by her family.

Marcianna was predeceased by her father, William Doanld Peters; her grandmother, Juanita Smith; her mother-in-law, Esther Martinez Hernandez; nephews, Day`Shawn Murphy and Jarmaine Brown; and her “Heaven Grandbaby”.

Marcianna is survived by her mother, Sharon Williams; sister, Nicole Murphy; husband, Rueben E. Hernandez; daughters, Chelsie Marie (Edward Griffin Jr) Hernandez, and Tashiena Marie (Donald Thyme Bennett) Hernandez; son, Rueben Victor-Fredrick (Savanna Leslie Alexander) Hernandez; bonus children, Elias Alvarado, Lupe Alvarado, Sergio Alvarado, Jamie Duranto, Amber Leipzig, Christina Hernandez, Jarquay Brown, Tyler Bennett, Lena Shorter, Nicole Scott, Gricel Roman, Zack Bolden, Demetreon Allen, Jenny & Chris Craft; grandchildren, DeVon, Demontae, Denise, Deshawn, Dakhari, Callie, Princeton, Tyler Jr, AJ, Malia, Naima, Lupe Jr., Angelina, Matthew, Michael Jr, Emma, Maisie, Har’Manii, Mulanii, and one on the way.

A private funeral service will be held at Langeland Family Funeral Homes Burial & Cremation Services, 622 S Burdick St, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007.

To view Marcianna’s personalized webpage, please visit https://www.langelands.com.