Funeral services for Reba Lofton Patterson will be held at 11a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 5, at Riverwood Family Funeral ServiceChapel, with burial in Riverwood Memorial Park.

Visition will be held on Wednesday from 5 until 7 p.m. at thefuneral home.

Mrs. Patterson, 89, died Aug. 3, 2010, at Brook Manor NursingCenter in Brookhaven. She was born May 17, 1921, in Lucien.

She is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth (Gordon) Nelms and ofGautier, Patricia Young, of McComb; her son, William Patterson, ofGulfport; her sister-in-law, Ida Lofton; and her nieces, Ann Martin(Dickey) and Barbara Jean Lofton. She is also survived by agreat-niece, Teresa Kennedy and great-nephews, Michael and LeeBarry.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold J. Patterson; herparents, Irving and Janie (Warnack) Lofton; and brother, E.B.Lofton.

During over 50 years of marriage, Mrs. Patterson accompanied herhusband Harold Patterson as he traveled the world following hismilitary assignments. They first met at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburgwhen his Maine National Guard Unit was called up for duty in WorldWar II. During the war, she worked in child care at FairchildShipbuilding in New Orleans. She had also worked previously atStahl-Urban Manufacturing Co. in Brookhaven.

Mrs. Patterson enjoyed sewing of all kinds, including makingdresses and play clothes for her daughters, as well as needlepointand cross stitching. She enjoyed sharing holiday meals such asChristmas with her brother and sister-in-law and their children.During summers, Mrs. Patterson read “Huck Finn” and “Tom Sawyer” toneighborhood children as they gathered on her front porch. She wasof the Baptist faith, and enjoyed working with children’s programsin Vacation Bible School and Sunday school.

Mrs. Patterson’s family wishes to express gratitude to the staff atBrook Manor for the kindness shown to them during Mrs. Patterson’sillness.

Memorials may be made to the Copiah-Lincoln Community CollegeFoundation.

To express your thoughts to the family, you may visitwww.riverwoodfamily.com and click on her name to leave acomment.