Visitation will be held from 10:00am until 11:00am on Thursday, February 4, 2021 at Baldwin-Lee in Pearl. Funeral services will follow in the funeral home chapel at 11:00am on Thursday, February 4, 2021. Burial will take place at Floral Hills Memory Gardens.
She was born on December 4, 1944 to the late Cleo Lewis and Sarah Louise Aldridge in Goldsboro, North Carolina. She married the love her life, John Forest Patterson, in 1963. She worked at Bell South as a telephone operator for over 20 years. Mrs. Patterson attended Liberty Baptist Church in Flowood. Her family affectionately remembers her love for a good burger from Wendy's and as a dedicated coffee addict with a huge sweet tooth. She was also sweet, however, in character. Her daughters describe her as "pure love". Mrs. Patterson didn't have mean bone in her body; she never had a bad word to say about anyone and never saw wrong in anyone. She possessed the patient, tender heart that everyone aspires to have and held kindness to the highest standard. Her legacy as a loving mother and grandmother will certainly live on. She took in her two nieces like daughters and would do anything for anyone she possibly could. In her free time, she could be found shopping to add to her collection of coach purses or jewelry. She also always had her television tuned into the Travel Channel and loved to watch Ghost Hunters. In addition, Mrs. Patterson was talented at creating crocheted and cross-stitch crafts.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Peggy Ham, Theresa English, William Lewis, and Patsy Lewis.
She is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, John Forest Patterson; daughters, Diane Nicolosi (Ken) of Slidell, Louisiana, Cathy Johnson (Chris) of Pensacola, Florida, Linda Simmons (J.J.) of Pearl, Pamela Lewis of Pearl, and Karen Lott of Pearl; grandchildren, Brittany Sims (Colton), Brandan Evans, Tayler Vercher (John), Sarah Patterson, Trey Nicolosi, Tyler Nicolosi, Kirsten Nicolosi, Aaron Simmons, and Kristen Nichols (Nathan); great-grandchild, Annaleah Sims; several nieces and nephews, and her dear Persian cat, Itty-Bit.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org
Mrs. Patterson will be deeply missed.
