Alice Batson Patterson

Alice Ona Batson Patterson, 89 years old, of Long Beach went to be with our Lord on Sunday, September 25th, 2016.
A native of Long Beach, MS, she was born in Stone County to Carrie Lee Miller and Hollis Hale Batson on September 19, 1927. She had four sisters and three brothers. Alice became a Christian at an early age, living her life accordingly.
She attended Clarke Junior College in Newton and the University of Southern Mississippi earning her Bachelor's and Master's degrees which she put to good use as a pioneer in education. Throughout her thirty years of service, she was a Chapter One coordinator and teacher for 21 years in the Long Beach Public School system from where she retired in 1989.
Alice married Walter Jack Patterson in 1947, and they were blessed with two children, Walter Jack II and Teresa Lynn (Terry). They raised their children in Long Beach and were active members of the church and community.
She was preceded in death by her husband Jack Patterson; son, Walter Patterson; parents, Hollis and Carrie Batson; brothers, Harmon Batson, J.D. Batson, Archie Batson; and sisters Mary Elaine Wesson and Ernestine Blackwood.
She is survived by her daughter Teresa (Jeff) Edwards; her sisters Nella Ruth Rogers and Jane Jackson; her grandchildren Bernie (Lizzy) Donlin, Jack Patterson, Patrick (Sarah) Blake, Carrie (Mitch) Ridenour and Dawn (Andrew) Fritz. She is also survived by her great grandchildren Noel Harris, John Donlin, Collin Blake, Kyle Dye, Jasmine Varnado, Braydon and Lilly Ridenour, Alice Fritz, and Allison Hightower.
Alice loved her Lord and her church, First Baptist Long Beach. She shared her love and faith in the Lord by teaching intermediate, adult, and preschool Sunday school classes for much of her life. Through her work as a teacher in the public school system and First Baptist Church, she touched the lives of countless children, many of whom remember her influence to this day.
She also had a lifelong love of antiques and found many of her most prized possessions by being the first person to arrive at a garage sale. Along with her love of antiques, she greatly admired nature and was a member of the Long Beach Garden Club. Her home on 2nd St. was showcased during one of the garden club's spring pilgrimages. Until her passing, and with a bit of help from her grandchildren, she maintained beautiful gardens and foliage surrounding her home. She was able to continue enjoying her hobbies late into her life thanks to the loving support of Janie and Rickey Cox.
In her later years, she surrounded herself with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom she loved and treasured immensely. She set an example for everyone in her family and throughout her community with her unrelenting faith in the Lord, her hard work, and her commitment to her loved ones.
The family extends their gratitude to all of those who have shown their support and love, and encourage everyone to celebrate Alice's long, beautiful life.
1 Corinthians 13:13: And now these three remain; faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Visitation for friends and family will be held at 10 a.m. with the memorial service starting at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Long Beach, MS, on Friday, September 30. RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 19130 Commission Road, Long Beach is serving the family.
Online tributes can be made at www.riemannfamily.com