Shirley Nell Patton

Shirley Scarbrough Patton went to be with her Lord and Savior on August 21, 2022.  She was born to Elmer Scarbrough and Dorothy Maloy Scarbrough on July 3, 1933, in Forrest County, Mississippi.  She lived most of her life in Gulfport, Mississippi.

Shirley graduated from Forrest County Agricultural High School.  She was a member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority.  She worked as the Secretary to the Administrator at Gulfport Memorial Hospital; was Secretary to the Principal at Gulfport High School; served as an Assistant to the Auditor at the Markham Hotel; and was a secretary at what is now Keesler Air Force Base in her younger years.  When her children were born, she left the employment field and dedicated herself to caring for and raising her children.  During those years, she was active with the Girl Scouts, serving in many capacities including Troop Leader, Cookie Chairman, and Camp Leader.  She was a member of the PTA including at East Ward Elementary, Bayou View Elementary, and Bayou View Middle School, serving as an officer a number of times.  After many years as a stay-at-home mom, she returned to the workforce in what she described as her favorite job as the Accounts Receivable Bookkeeper at Riemann Family Funeral Home.  She retired from there after twenty-one (21) years of service.  Shirley’s husband, Orbie, was an avid golfer and taught her to play golf.  She excelled at it for many years, winning many trophies and tournaments.  During that time, Shirley became a member of the Great Southern Ladies Golf Club, the Edgewater Ladies Golf Club, the Bayou View Ladies Golf Club and the Gulf Coast Ladies Golf Association.  She served as the Bayou View Ladies Golf Club President and Tournament Chairman.  She was also Vice President of the Gulf Coast Ladies Golf Association and served on its Tournament Committee.

Shirley was known as a woman of great faith.  She faced much adversity in her life, but also received many blessings.  She never failed to share her faith with others and to tell them of her Lord and the miracles and blessings in her life.  She was especially blessed to receive a kidney transplant in 2000.  After her recovery, she for many years shared her experience and faith with others waiting for transplants or recovering from transplant surgery.  Shirley loved her church; she was a member of Bayou View Baptist Church for many decades.  She served there a number of times on the Pastor Search Committee and the Deacon Selection Committee, as well as other committees.  She was a member of the choir for many years.  She also taught Sunday School, teaching at different times the Youth Class, Young Couples Class, Adult Ladies Class and Senior Women’s Class.

Shirley was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband of 65 years, Orbie Martin Patton, Jr.  She was also preceded in death by her son, Mark Patton, her son-in-law Mike Dodson, her father Elmer Scarbrough, her mother Dorothy Scarbrough, her stepmother Mollie Scarbrough, and a sister and brother-in-law, Carolyn and Glen Laws.  She is survived by her daughters Judge Lisa Dodson and Julie Patton; her daughter-in-law Joyce Patton; her grandchildren, Zachary Dodson, Samantha Dodson, Lindsay Farmer, Candice Dodson, David Kelley, and Zane Snelgrove; her brother and sister-in-law Shelton and Kitty Scarbrough; her sister and brother-in-law Jackie and Gary Herring; greatgrandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews and their children.

Services will be held on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, at Bayou View Baptist Church, Chamberlain Avenue, Gulfport, MS at 12:00 P.M. with visitation at the Church from 10:30 A.M. until 12:00 P.M.  Burial will be at the Biloxi National Cemetery at 1:30 P.M.

The family wishes to thank and extends its gratitude to the very caring and professional doctors, nurses and staff who provided such good care to Shirley over the years.  Special thanks go to Dr. Douglas Lanier and to the nurses, aides and staff who cared for her in her final days on Floor 4D at Memorial Hospital and at St. Joseph’s Hospice.  We are grateful for your care and kindness to her and our family.

Riemann Family Funeral Home, Gulfport, is serving the family, and memories may be shared at www.riemannfamily.com.