Patricia Parrish Stutts
Patti was born at Fort Belvoir in Fairfax County, Virginia. Being a Virginian was a blessing she always treasured. When her father retired from the Army, the family moved to Alabama. Sharing a deep love for Auburn University with her father, she followed in his footsteps to the loveliest village. She was awarded a BS in Mathematics from Auburn in 1973 and an MA from the University of North Alabama in 1974. While at Auburn she was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi and was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She taught at Bob Jones High School for 3 years followed by 2.5 years at Milton High School in Alpharetta, GA.
In 1975, Patti married Reed beginning over 49 years of a lifetime together. Two amazing children blessed their lives: Ike and Jennie-Marie. In 1984, Patti began teaching at Decatur High School. She started teaching Algebra II with Trigonometry and sponsoring Student Council in 1991. It was then that she initiated several traditions at Decatur High such as Kiss-a-Senior Goodbye, Homecoming Assembly, Great Raider Tailgate, and the Faculty & Retired Teacher Luncheon. Many of these traditions continue today and are happening this week with Homecoming at DHS. She often reminded her students of her motto, “Do what you love and love what you do.” She retired in 2015 with 37 years of teaching experience.
Patti was a member of Central United Methodist Church of Decatur for 40 years and was a founding member of Decatur Methodist Church in 2022. The Methodist Disciple Bible studies provided a bridge between a busy family life and an empty nest. Patti enjoyed the opportunities for Christian growth and fellowship that church always offered.
Travel was her passion for many years. She loved seeing Europe in the company of her students, friends and Reed. In the last five years, she set out to see and revisit many of the amazing sites in her home state of Virginia. Her hobbies included travel, needlepoint, embroidery, French hand sewing, cooking, trivia and crosswords.
Patti was preceded in death by her parents, Emmett and Irene Parrish and her brother Mike all of Florence.
She is survived by her husband, Reed Stutts, her son Ike Stutts and his wife Caroline of Alexandria, Virginia and her daughter Jennie-Marie McMasters and her husband Carlton of Decatur. To her grandchildren she was known as “Nana”. She adored her precious granddaughters Julianna Stutts, Emma Hensley McMasters, Mary-Reed McMasters, Lily McMasters, Elizabeth Stutts and Margaret McMasters and her one and only grandson, Mason Stutts.
Visitation will be Sunday, September 29, 2024 at half past twelve. The funeral, with Jack Lovelace officiating, will be at two o’clock at Decatur Methodist Church with burial to follow in Decatur City Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Beau Jones, John Joseph, Hal Sanders, John Sturges, Jack Underwood, Christopher Vought and Charlie Walker.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Decatur Methodist Church or the Patti Stutts Leadership Scholarship through United Community Bank.
Peck Funeral Home
