Barbara Ann Patterson

Barbara Ann Patterson, age 75, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 while under the loving care of the Rebecca House staff and Montgomery Hospice in Potomac, Maryland. She lived with Alzheimer's disease during her last years with us.She was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 29, 1942 to George and Margaret (Gliddon) Rose. She was raised, primarily by her beloved Aunt Sarah (Gliddon) Davison in the city of Philadelphia. During her teenaged years she was drawn to learning-disabled children and spent many years teaching them; helping to develop the unique talents that she found in each of them. She would later earn a college degree in early childhood education from Bloomsburg State College and begin her lifelong career of teaching and helping young children with challenging backgrounds or exceptional abilities.

Barbara married Billy W. Patterson and they moved to Washington, DC in 1971 where they raised three daughters: Gwendolyn Ann , Kimberly Jean, and Damali Ayo. Barbara was a stay-at-home mom during the early years and started her own home-based pre-school child care learning center where, through word-of-mouth, she became known for her excellent developmental work with young children. During those years she would also earn her master’s degree from Trinity University, in Washington, DC and go on to be hired as Director of the Black Student Fund, then a small organization offering financial support to K-12, African-American children who had been accepted into a number of Washington-area independent schools. She would serve as the head of the organization for over 25 years, becoming its president along the way and being named President Emerita on her retirement. During her tenure she would oversee an almost ten-fold increase in the size of the BSF, earn a Washingtonian of the Year award, and have a scholarship established in her honor at one of the area's most prestigious independent school; The Sidwell Friends School. Almost ten years after her retirement the current executive director of the BSF made the following, unsolicited comment. Referring to her as “the woman who made BSF what it is.“ He said: “Not a week goes by that I don’t have a conversation with someone about Barbara Patterson and her impact on students and schools.”

A fierce defender of and a tenacious advocate for her students; she will also be remembered for her impatience ("Do it now"), her strong will ("Be reasonable; do it my way"), and her warm and friendly smile. When she was not somewhere fighting for her students; she found it relaxing, "just digging in the dirt", as she referred to it, (planting flowers around the house) or just sitting under the trees in her backyard marveling at the majesty of it all. She is survived by her husband, Billy W. Patterson, three daughters, Dr. Gwendolyn Patterson Cobbs, Kimberly Jean Patterson , and Damali Ayo, three grandsons; Stephen Cobbs, Christian Cobbs, and David Cobbs, and a sister, Penelope Holmes of Philadelphia, Pa. A memorial service will be held on February 12th at 11:00 AM, in the Bethlehem Chapel of The Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. 20016. A private burial will follow at Norbeck Memorial Park in Olney, Maryland.

Friends may gather with members of the family for light refreshments in the Cathedral’s Pilgrim Observation Gallery from 09:00 AM - 10:30 AM prior to the memorial service. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to:The Black Student Fund Scholarship Fund, 3636 16th. Street NW, Washington, DC 20010 and The House of Ruth , #4, 5 Thomas Circle Washington, DC 20005.