Billie Stephenson Patterson, age 90, resident of the Presbyterian Village in Austell Georgia
Billie Stephenson Patterson was born in Athens, Tennessee on July 4, 1932 to the late James and Cammie Skelton Stephenson and died February 16, 2023 in Austell, Georgia.
Mrs. Patterson was the middle of seven children, who grew up on a small family farm in Athens, Tennessee. Her modest family beginnings influenced her belief in the role of education as a path out of poverty. She attended Tennessee Wesleyan College and graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Teaching. Later she completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education at Shorter College in Rome, Georgia.
She valued her time growing up on the family farm and was an avid gardener her whole life, growing vegetables that fed the family and were shared with neighbors and those in need. Her yard was always beautiful-She proudly grew flowers and shrubs that she shared as pass-along plants and tended with love and care. She was also an excellent cook and was well-known for her summer vegetable plates and corn bread muffins.
Mrs. Patterson married the late Reverend A. Guy Patterson in 1958. She taught elementary school early in their marriage and then became a stay at home Mom, volunteering with the Red Cross and the American Association of University Women. As her children grew, she went back into the workforce part-time, working at the Johnston Memorial YMCA in Charlotte, NC and as a substitute teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina, Carthage, North Carolina, and Piggott, Arkansas. Her work was a testament to her love of her family and her belief that education was the best tool to help anyone to improve their circumstances.
During her marriage, her husband’s role as a Presbyterian pastor took them to different cities throughout the Southeast, but eventually they moved back to their beloved Tennessee in retirement. They lived in Winchester, TN where they served at Decherd Presbyterian Church and were members of First Presbyterian Church Tullahoma. Mrs. Patterson moved to the Presbyterian Village in Austell, Georgia after Mr. Patterson’s death to be closer to her children.
Mrs. Patterson, though shy and reserved, was well-known and loved by residents and staff at the Presbyterian Village in Austell. She loved to read, enjoyed being a scholar of the bible, and later loved to sing. She was a member of the Village Book Club, along with the Bible Study Group, Chair Exercise Class and the Tai Chi class for almost 10 years. Her family is grateful to the numerous staff and friends throughout The Village who cared for and loved her through the years.
She is survived by her children, Sarah (Joshua) Patterson-Pope of Columbia, South Carolina, Andrew (Rachel) Patterson of Aberdeen, North Carolina, and Mary Carol (Samuel) Sheffield of Cartersville, Georgia, four grandchildren, Peyton Patterson, Abram Patterson, Maggie Sheffield, and David Sheffield, Sisters Una Bullock of Knoxville, TN, and Carol Frost of Stone Mountain, GA, and many nieces and nephews. All of her children and grandchildren are grateful, proud, and inspired by her strong witness of faith in action to bring the love of Christ to those they serve and interact with each day.
Visitation will be from 2-3pm on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at Moore-Cortner Funeral Home. A graveside service will follow at 3:00 pm at Franklin Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mrs. Patterson’s memory to the Caring Hands Fund at Presbyterian Homes of Georgia, PO Box 926, Quitman, Georgia 31643 or online at https://www.phgainc.org/donate/general-caring-hands/
Moore-Cortner Funeral Home, 300 First Ave NW, Winchester, TN 37398, (931)-967-2222
