The Compton Family

Mattie Peterson Compton, the 2016 Blackstone Award recipient is a Fort Worth native. She describes herself as an “accidental lawyer”, who once wanted to be a journalist. She has a B.A. from Smith College in Northampton, MA, where she is a recently elected Trustee. Her J.D. is from University of Michigan School of Law. Mattie’s mother, Mae Cora Peterson received her M.A. from U. of M., and at 101 is still active in her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, and in their church, Broadway Baptist, where Mattie serves as Chair of Deacons. Mattie’s brother, John Peterson, spends a lot of time reading, and enjoying retirement after teaching at Dunbar High School for more than 25 years. Dunbar is his and Mattie’s alma mater, and where Mae Cora was a Vice-principal for 27 years. Mattie’s son, Joseph Compton, IV is a support services manager at First Data in Atlanta, GA, where he has lived since graduating from Morehouse College in 2003. He enjoys leading a group of middle school boys at Mount Paran Church.