James Larry Peters

James Larry Peters passed away peacefully on August 30, 2026. Larry was born in Lanett, Alabama, on March 19, 1938, to J.D. and Mary Williams Peters.

Larry was an exceptional student and athlete at Lanett High School where he excelled in football, basketball and baseball. He attended Pearl River Junior College in Poplarville, Mississippi, on a football scholarship, where he fell in love with a cute cheerleader, Sandra Amacker Gipson. He set a school record for a kickoff return that stood for many years at PRC.

He moved to Atlanta to attend Georgia Tech where he and Sandra were married. While a full time student, Larry worked for Coastal States Life Insurance Company. He later transferred to Georgia State University and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business.

Larry and Sandra relocated their family to New Orleans in 1965 for his new position with Louisiana & Southern Life Insurance Company. In 1969, he accepted a position with Life of Carolina and moved the family to High Point, North Carolina. He was promoted to Vice President of Group Life Sales. Larry continued his professional education at The American College of Financial Services in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, where he proudly earned the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation.

When Life of Carolina was sold in 1976, Larry decided that High Point would be the family’s permanent home. He founded Benefit Plan Services, Inc. (BPS), one of the first Third Party Administrators in the emerging self-funded health insurance industry. With Sandra’s unwavering support, BPS grew into a leading Third Party Administrator. Their son, Alan, joined the company in 1983 and is now its President and owner.

Larry believed deeply in servant leadership and was an active and dedicated member of his community. He especially enjoyed serving as a greeter at Wesley Memorial Methodist Church where he could do what came naturally to him—shake hands, welcome people, and make them feel at home. His Methodist faith was deeply important to him and remained a guiding part of his life.

For many years, Larry enjoyed his daily breakfast at Tom’s Place, where friendships and conversation were as much a part of the meal as the food. He was a lifetime member of High Point Elks Lodge #1155 and a longtime member of the High Point YMCA.

Larry’s leadership and expertise were recognized well beyond High Point. He was appointed by Governors Jim Hunt and James Martin to the Board of Trustees of the Teachers and State Employees Comprehensive Major Medical Plan. He was also an active member of the High Point and North Carolina Life Underwriters Associations, the Society of Chartered Life Underwriters, the Piedmont Business and Estate Planning Association, and the Society of Professional Benefit Administrators.

As the years went by, golf became his greatest passion. He loved playing new courses, challenging himself, and sharing the game with others. His love of golf took him around the world, including six memorable trips to Scotland to play some of the game’s most legendary courses.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, J.D. Peters and Mary Williams Peters, and his sister, Mary Ann Nash.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Sandra Amacker Peters; his children, Alan Peters (Monica) of High Point, Kim Stone (Greg) of Stallings, Dawn Peters (Bob Finke) of Norfolk, Virginia, and Beth Cooling (Norm) of High Point; his grandchildren, Tyler Stone, Caroline Cooling, John Ross Cooling (Nadia), Will Stone (Rebecca), Madison Finke, Julia Finke, and Claire Peters; and his great-grandchildren, Noah, Ellia, Eli, and Jonah Stone. He is also survived by his brother, Tom Peters, along with dozens of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Larry leaves behind a legacy of love, leadership, faith, friendship, and family. He was a man who welcomed others with a handshake, worked hard to build something lasting, laughed at himself, served his community, and never passed up an opportunity to enjoy a round of golf. Above all, he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend who will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

Many thanks to the wonderful staff at Westchester Harbor & Westchester Manor at Providence Place for the loving care of Larry over the past seven years.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, September 6, at 2:00 p.m. at Wesley Memorial Methodist Church, followed by a reception in the Asbury Room. The family will have a private interment prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Semper Fi & America’s Fund, 825 College Blvd., Suite 102, PMB 609, Oceanside, CA 92057 or online at TheFund.org.

Wright Funerals-Cremations, High Point is in charge of arrangements.