Mildred Diane Patterson

Obituary

Mildred Diane, was the name selected by Mr. & Mrs. Earl Breckenridge for the fifth child born to the loving couple, on June 13, 1951 in Beckley, WV. Mildred Diane or “Penny” as she was affectionately known was an academic scholar throughout her school years and at Stratton High School was named Homecoming Queen in 1966. She ultimately graduated from South High School in Columbus OH in 1969 and later attended college for Business Administration at Beckley College. As a young adult she lived in Detroit, MI and Beckley, WV and had two daughters. She was very active in her community and church. She was well-known for her signature fashion shows in Beckley and the surrounding areas. She primarily worked as a case manager at the WV Dept. of Welfare for several years before meeting her future husband and moving to Columbus, OH in 1984.

Penny cherished good times with family and friends, telling stories and making people laugh. She always encouraged and promoted the underdog. She was an advisor and confidant to family and friends that were drawn to her for guidance and assurance because her door was always open. In her leisure time she enjoyed reading, cooking, shopping, art and watching TV. She has left a legacy of love, laughter and caring for many who knew her.

Penny fell asleep into eternal rest on April 9, 2015 after a trying battle with cancer. She passed away much like she lived her life by defying the odds and rising above the rest. She remains a statistic for her treating physicians in Atlanta, as the longest living patient with her diagnosis that they ever treated, by the grace of God.

She was preceded in death by her father Earl Breckenridge Sr., mother Evelyn Breckenridge, sister Gwendolyn Breckenridge, nephew Chase Breckenridge, step-grandson Emerson Patterson, Jr. and fifteen special aunts and uncles. She is survived by a loving husband, Andrew Patterson of Decatur, GA, two daughters Cicely Breckenridge of Atlanta GA and Mita Breckenridge of Beckley WV; two step-children Emerson Patterson and Kizzy Moore, two sisters Patricia (Orlando) Mullins of Powell, OH and Carita (Tim) Nunnally of Atlanta, GA; three brothers, Earl (Lois) Breckenridge Jr. of Columbus, OH, Marvin (Agnes) Breckenridge of Detroit MI. and Mitchell (Felicia) Breckenridge of Detroit, MI; two grandsons Jaylon and Kenyon Breckenridge of Beckley WV, a granddaughter Eeliyah Patterson of Columbus OH, six step-grandchildren and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and a multitude of family friends.