Mr. Delmus "Pat" Patterson

Delmus R. “Pat” Patterson, 79, gained his heavenly reward Sunday, August 27, 2017. He was born in Section, Alabama on December 23, 1937, to Emery and Vada Patterson. He lived a life of leadership and service to his community. He loved his Lord, his family, and his church. He was a member of Bethany Baptist Church in Section. He attended grammar school at Macedonia, Dutton, and Section, as well as Scottsboro High School, Pisgah High School, and Section High School. He was proud to be a member of the first graduating class of Section High School, 1956. In 1959, he served as Chief of the Section Volunteer Fire Department, and worked to help purchase the first fire truck. After high school, he worked as bookkeeper for Section Gin & Grain Company, and Institutional Chemicals in Chattanooga, TN. He returned to Section in 1965 and was the Sales Manager of Campbell Pontiac-GMC in Scottsboro. While in Chattanooga, he adopted the nickname “Pat” because in his words, “no one could remember Delmus, but everyone knew Pat Patterson.” In the early 1970s, he started his own restaurant in Section, The Lions Den Drive-In and eventually turned it into a food truck catering service. In the late in 1980s he began working at Southern All-Sports in Scottsboro, which put him in contact with many youth and high school coaches in Jackson County. Other than his family and church, his greatest joy began in the fall of 1965, when he began working with the Section High School administration to start a football program. He spent countless hours acquiring used equipment, building community spirit, organizing Sunday afternoon sandlot football games, and building the Section High School football stadium. He organized the Section Quarterback Club and served as its first president. Pat Patterson was a worker and not a watcher. He painted the used helmets crimson and was welding the last hand rail on the bleachers minutes before kick-off for the first game, at home in 1968. Section won. He was welcomed into heaven by his parents, an older sister Guindola, and his little brother Emery Jr. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Edna Earlene Harris Patterson; daughter, Karen Patterson Reid (Anthony), two sons, Patrick Patterson (Jenny) and Troy Patterson (Jamie); and daughter, Cindy Patterson Palmer (Daniel); sister, Ola Faye Sparks; nephew, Jeff Sparks; niece, Lisa Sparks; and nephew, Steve Sparks; grandchildren, Kyle Patterson, Olivia Patterson, Tytis Patterson, Pepper Patterson, and EllaKate Palmer. Pallbearers included, Kyle Patterson, Tony Ball, J.C. Manning, Jerry Barton, James Barton, and Gary Kay. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the 1968 Section High School Football team, as well as every player representing Section High School, past and present. A time of visitation will be held Tuesday, August 29, 2017 from 5-8 p.m. at Scottsboro Funeral Home with funeral services on Wednesday, August 30, 2017 at 2 p.m. at Scottsboro Funeral Home Chapel. Reverand Bobby Hulett and Terry Little officiating. Burial will be in the Old Sardis Cemetery.

Mr. Delmus "Pat" Patterson

December 23, 1937 - August 27, 2017