Patricia (Pat) Ann Pinkstaff Edmondson, age 87, of Fayetteville, Tennessee, passed away on September 17, 2026, at Elk River Health and Nursing Center.
Pat was born January 7, 1939, in Fayetteville to Arville Mayo Pinkstaff and Ida Mae Broadway Pinkstaff. Fayetteville was home for most of her life and the place where she raised her family, built her businesses, and became part of the community she loved.
After graduating from Fayetteville Central High School in 1957, she started her federal career with the Army Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. She later moved to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. There, she served as one of the private secretaries to Dr. Wernher von Braun. She remained with NASA until 1970.
Pat was never one to sit still for long. In 1975, she became owner and operator of the CATO franchise in Fayetteville. She later worked alongside her husband, Billy Wayne Edmondson, at Edmondson Auto Parlor & Body Shop. In 1989, she opened Patricia Edmondson Associates and continued working there until her retirement in 2024.
Pat was also active in civic and community organizations throughout Fayetteville and Lincoln County and was a lifetime member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Of the Primitive Baptist faith, she was a member of The Rock Family Worship Center, Fayetteville Campus.
But to her grandchildren, she was simply Mema.
The Mema they all knew made sure the people she loved knew she was thinking about them, no matter where they were or where life had taken them. She never let a birthday or holiday go by without sending a card. It was a small gesture, but one her family always knew was just another sign of her love for them
Christmas Eve at Mema’s was another tradition the entire family knew all too well. Each year, she brought the family together at her house for presents, food, conversation, and plenty of laughter and games.
Christmas Eve also meant the famous fireplace would be on full display.
Now this was not an actual fireplace, but instead it was a video of a crackling fire playing on her television the entire evening. The entire family thought it was always so funny, so Mema kept it going year after year. Eventually, it simply became part of Christmas Eve tradition at her house.
The fireplace may have been on the television, but the warmth in the house came from Mema and from the love she had for her family.
Pat’s life took her from Redstone Arsenal and NASA to owning businesses in the hometown she loved, and she was able to watch her family grow across five generations.
Those who knew her will remember all of that, but her family will remember the everyday things just as much: her stubborn streak, the birthday card that always came, Christmas Eve at Mema’s, everyone laughing together, and that fireplace glowing on the television.
Most of all, they will remember how much she adored having her family together and reminding them of the shared loved that bonded them across generations.
Patricia is survived by her daughters, Teresa (Jeff) Massey, Kay (Ronnie) Smith, and Kellie (Wendell) Clemons; and her sons, Barry (Renee´) Edmondson and Brian (Tina) Edmondson.
She is also survived by her grandchildren, Christal (Jason) Taylor, LaCarrie (Ryan) Means, Chase (Heather) Clemons, Tyler (Chad) Edmondson, Peige (Brad) Morgan, Corey (Lauren) Clemons, Roxi (Gage) Cunningham, Malaya Edmondson, and Christian Edmondson.
Her family continued to grow with her great-grandchildren, Eli, Shelby, Hunter, Jacob, Easton, Elliott, Margot, Maddi, Paisley, Charley Ann, Wrenley, Hayze, Reed, Storey, Jeffery, and Samuel; and her great-great-grandchild, Coen.
Patricia was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Wayne Edmondson; her parents, Arville Mayo Pinkstaff and Ida Mae Broadway Pinkstaff; and her siblings, Frances McCune, Margaret Duckett, Donald Pinkstaff, Fredna Ruth White, Kenneth Pinkstaff, Doris Jeanne Hamlin, and Mary Alice Morrow.
A graveside service will be held at 1:30 PM on Monday, September 21, 2026, at Rose Hill Cemetery with Elder Don Burkhalter officiating. Visitation with the family will be from 12 PM until 1 PM on Monday at Higgins Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741; St. Joseph’s Indian School, PO Box 100, Chamberlain, SD 57325; Paralyzed Veterans of America, P.O. Box 758589, Topeka, KS 66675-8589; or Dementia Society of America, PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901.
Higgins Funeral Home is privileged to offer comfort, care, and support to the family of Patricia Ann Pinkstaff Edmondson.
