Alan Sawyer
Maggie Peterson, the woman who played Charlene Darling in a recurring role on The Andy Griffith Show, died Sunday at the age of 81.
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Peterson’s family posted the information on Facebook, writing that her health had taken a turn for the worse after her husband, jazz musician Gus Mancuso, had passed in December. They said that Peterson died peacefully in her sleep.
“Maggie’s health took a turn for the worse after the death of her husband Gus and we are relieved that we were able to move her home to be close to family for her last days,” Peterson’s family wrote. “We will be planning a private service for Maggie in the next few weeks. Although this fundraiser will no longer be accepting donations, we will keep it open for a few more weeks in order to communicate with this community.”
Peterson’s family made special mention to her fans, saying that the actress want them to know that they reminded her she was not alone. Peterson had been separated from her in Las Vegas after her health deteriorated during her last months.
They wrote that, “She made many mentions to us about how she couldn’t believe how generous you all were. You truly made a positive impact on her life and helped her during some very difficult times.”
Adding that they personally wanted to thank her fans from the bottom of their hearts and for their outpouring of generosity.
“We hope that during this difficult time you can find solace in knowing how important you were for making the end of Maggie’s life much better,” the statement concluded. “Thank you and God bless.”
