Bobbie Gean Patterson, 73, of Lubbock, passed away Friday, Jan. 13, 20

[Stan]

Bobbie Gean Patterson, 73, of Lubbock, passed away Friday, Jan. 13, 2012, at her residence. She was born May 1, 1938, to Hillary Sr. and Elnora Hutchinson.

Bobbie Gean learned and developed integrity and received years of teaching and training at Bethel A.M.E. Church, where she served as a choir member, church secretary and youth director. As time passed, Bobbie Gean moved her membership to what is now the Martin Luther King Jr. Seventh Day Adventist Church, and proudly served as church pianist and Sabbath school teacher. Bobbie Gean spent countless hours studying the word of God and imparting that same word to others.

Bobbie Gean spent her early years of learning from many loving and caring educators at Dunbar Schools. It was there that she learned to read, recite and remember, and the power of the word reward. Bobbie Gean worked hard and served in many school organizations. She had a true love for singing and developed a very melodious voice. She sang in the school choir, the octet group and the Dunbar Combo until her completion of high school in 1955. Following high school, she took that same ethic, drive and zeal for learning to Paul Quinn College in Waco, Texas, where she obtained her Bachelor Degree in Education, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and to Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, where she earned a Masters of Education in the area of Counseling and Diagnostics.

She met and married Thomas James Patterson, or "T.J.," as he has come to be known. T.J. would enter the military after marrying Bobbie Gean and beginning a family. T.J. and Bobbie Gean had the responsibility of caring for three children, Avis Elise, Thomas James Jr. and Shelia Renee. Bobbie Gean spent many years teaching and educating children and young people. She began her career in the teaching field in the Ralls Independent School District. From there, she taught in the Plainview Independent School District and the Lubbock Independent School District. Bobbie Gean would leave Lubbock I.S.D. to work at the collegiate level as a counselor in the College of Business at Texas Tech University. Later, she returned to Lubbock I.S.D. to complete her over 40 years of service in education to countless children and young adults. Providing for children was her priority, and she worked tirelessly to have another continuing gift to them through the T.J. and Bobbie Patterson Scholarship, where graduating high school students and undergraduate students may apply for a scholarship while attending Texas Tech University.

Bobbie Gean's life was filled with the joy of touching young people through her career and Christian and personal walk. She has a record of service through Eta Lambda and Lubbock Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She served on numerous boards for the City of Lubbock, as a Cub and Girl Scout leader, and as a member of many community choirs, church boards and organizations. While Bobbie Gean was not one for wanting recognition, she received several awards and honors that include the United Juneteenth Commission of Lubbock Trendsetter, the MLK Commemorative Council Educator of the Yea,r and the Bobbie Gean & T.J. Patterson Branch Library, just to name a few.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Hillary Sr. and Elnora Hutchinson; her grandmother, Sara "Good Mama" Crawford; sisters, Sara Blocker and Saundra McKinzie; brother, Norvell Hutchinson; and a son, Clifford Ray Patterson.

Those left to cherish her memory and carry on her legacy are her husband of 52 years, Thomas Patterson Sr. of Lubbock; son, Pastor Thomas Patterson Jr. (Ursula) of Mansfield; daughters, Avis Patterson and Shelia Harris (Shaun), both of Lubbock; grandchildren, Rev. Zairreus Patterson, Marcus Williams (Emmanuella), Asya Harris, Thomas Patterson III and Lauren Patterson; one great-grandchild, Nathan Williams; brother, Hillary Hutchison Jr. (Deborah); and a host of nieces, nephews, other family members, friends, and thousands of children whose lives she touched.

Celebration of life services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 20, 2012, at Full Armor Ministries. Interment will follow in City of Lubbock Cemetery under the direction of Griffin Mortuary. Family will receive friends from 1 to 6 p.m. today at Griffin Mortuary.

In honor of Bobbie Gean Bailey Patterson, legacy gifts may be made to: T.J. and Bobbie Patterson Scholarship, P.O. Box 41081, Lubbock, TX 79409-1081, Attn: Alicia Knight.

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