By Stephen D. Riley
AFRO Staff Writer
John Patterson Sr. and his wife, Mary Patterson, share one moment among many throughout their 70-year marriage. (Courtesy Photo)
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(October 22, 2009) - Joan Patterson-Taylor grew up in a Greek household. Her father, John William Elbert Patterson Sr., 99, has offered 81 years of service as a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and her mother, Mary Renthy Brown Patterson, 98, was a member of the Kappa Silhouettes, the wives of the Kappa men.
On Oct. 18, Taylor, 64, along with her brother, John Jr., 66, and their father lost Mary after she became suddenly ill and passed away. Before Mary passed away, however, she was fortunate enough to celebrate her 70th anniversary with her husband and friends, an event Taylor remembers vividly.
“It was marvelous,” Taylor said. “Such a happy time for my parents. They got to see very old friends who they hadn’t seen in a while. The weather was perfect, the rain lifted, the day appeared to be like the day when they became wedded. It was the same kind of fall day. One lady described it as a very peaceful, comfortable time of fun and remembrances. It was just wonderful.“
Since Taylor was born, John Patterson Sr. has always been a part of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Patterson’s longtime allegiance has made him a national Kappa symbol. He currently holds the status as the oldest living member of the North Eastern Regional Province. Taylor said being raised among Black Greeks was an invaluable experience.
“Good times, fellowship, caring environment where anything that went on – the Kappas was always there to do what we needed to have done and to look out for Pat,” Taylor recalled. “I remember being at the Kappa Las Vegas night and being a hostess and just growing up with my parents and having such a wonderful social atmosphere around us with people of quality.”
With her parents directly tied to Greek life, it was only right that Taylor pledged Delta Sigma Theta as an alumnus of Morgan State University in 1978. When asked if her parents’ fraternity involvement had any direct ties to her own decisions, Taylor admitted the influence was definitely there. “I guess it probably was. In the family as well, my uncle was an Alpha – it was kind of just without saying; it was a part of us,” she told the {AFRO}. We were all a part of a club where women who were having their babies at the same time formed a stork club. We all kind of grew up learning social graces, being around people for whom education was important and succeeding in life. As it turns out, I would say 95 percent or better of the children who came up in this environment all did succeed. And, many, many of us are Greeks so I guess it did have some kind of effect.”
Mary Patterson’s funeral will take place at the Vaughn C. Greene Funeral Parlor in Randallstown, Md., on Saturday at 11 a.m. A public viewing will take place Oct. 23 from 4-8 p.., also at the Vaughn C. Greene Funeral Parlor.
Mary is survived by her loving husband John; her two children, Joan (Joseph) and John Jr.; a host of nieces, nephews, grandchildren and other loved family members and friends.