On April 1, 1935, God saw fit to bless the late Missey and Haywood Patterson with a baby boy, who they named Leotha Patterson, affectingly known as "Stoonie" by his family and friends.
Leotha joined Lessie Mae Elmore in Holy matrimony to this union eight children were born, five girls (Frances, Mae Pearl, Geraldine, Lendora, and Mary Alice), three boys (Ernest, Bo, and Marshall) and a grand-daughter (Melenski) they raise like theirs. Leotha was a hardworking and dedicated father and grandfather with an exceptionally passion to enjoy life.
He grew up in the Long Branch Community near West, MS and attended school there. On his Christian journey as a longtime member of Liberty Hill A.M.E. Zion Church; he helped construct the Liberty Hill Church in Durant, MS in 1974 and was a dedicated member in the caretaking of the church and graveyard. During the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960's, along with Walter Bruce, Leotha was an intricate part in integrating the Ritz Cafe' in Durant, MS. He was longtime worker for the City of Durant in which he worked there for 37 years until he retired in 1996. "Stoonie" loved fixing anything around the house, helping others within the community and he would clean anything someone brought him from fish, deer, turtle, and to even a raccoon.
Leotha "Stoonie" Patterson departed this life on Friday, October 2, 2020 at Attala County Nursing Home in Kosciusko, MS. He leaves the following loved ones to cherish his loving memory: five loving daughters, Ms. Frances Patterson-Levy, Mrs. Lendora (Lee) Harmon, Ms. Mary Alice Patterson-Roby of Durant, MS, Ms. Mae Pearl Patterson-Shavers of Lexington, MS, Mrs. Geraldine (Ricky) Anderson of Goodman, MS; one loving son Mr. Bo (Denita Dawson) Patterson of Durant, MS, 17 Grandchildren, 11 Great-Grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Predeceased in death by his wife Lessie Mae Elmore-Patterson, his two sons Ernest Patterson and Marshall Patterson, his parents, six brothers and two sisters.
PLACE OF GRAVESIDE: Liberty Hill Cemetery, Durant, MS
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