Judge William Joseph "Joe" Patterson, Jr.

Judge William Joseph "Joe" Patterson, Jr., age 93, passed away quietly in his sleep on Friday, 26 February 2010. Judge Patterson was born on March 11, 1916. He was a native of Macon, Georgia, and had been living in Lawrenceville, Georgia with his daughter, JoAlice Patterson-Welton, and family since 2006. It would be tempting to say the Judge Patterson inherited the ingredients of his success; that it was something within his bloodlines, but instead, it is the sum total of merit, and hard work, and especially, the choice that he alone made for himself that determined the direction his life would take. Judge Patterson graduated from Young Harris College in 1937. He continued his education at Mercer University in Macon, where he received his AB degree in 1939, majoring in law with minors in economics and history. He received his JD law degree from the University of Georgia in 1948, where he was president of his senior law class. He was a member of the American and Georgia State Bar Associations. He was in the private practice of law for many years prior to be being appointed as a Judge of the Recorder's Court in Macon. Later, he was honored with the appointment as the United States Federal Bankruptcy Judge for the Middle District of Georgia. He served this position until his retirement. Judge Patterson always remembered that justice is conscience, not just personal conscience, but the conscience of mankind. He felt that those who recognized the voice of their own conscience usually recognized the voice of justice. He was a member of Tattnall Square Baptist Church where he was a member of the Brotherhood, and a founding member of Tattnall Square Academy in Macon. Judge Patterson was past president and chairman of the Bibb County Grand Jurors Association, and past president of the Macon Civitan Club. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force during World War II attaining the rank of Technical Sergeant. Above this, his most important role was that of a loving husband, father and especially, grandfather. Patrick was truly the bright spot in Judge Patterson's life, and Patrick loved his Papoo with all his heart. Judge Patterson was preceded in death by his parents, William Joseph Patterson, Sr., and Biddie Pauline Minter Patterson, and his cherished and beloved wife of 64 years, Alice Pauline Justice Patterson. He is survived by his only child, JoAlice Patterson-Welton, and her husband, Steven Welton, only grandchild, Patrick Joseph Welton, and grandpuppy, "Emily Katherine" Welton, all of Lawrenceville, Georgia. He is also, survived by his sister, Laura Harriette Patterson Sanders, of Warner Robins, Georgia, and her children, Beverly Sanders Mangrum, Frank Sanders, Wayne Sanders. His sister-in-law, Mary Justice Yates, her son, Melvin D. Yates, Jr., his wife Pamela Stanley Yates, their children, Melvin D. Yates, III, and Allison Ann Yates. Brother-in-law, Joe Justice, his wife, JoAnne, of Macon, Georgia, and their sons, Joey, Benny, and Tommy, sister-in-law, Kittye Cleveland and children, Donna Jean, Johnny, and Tracie of Austell, Georgia; niece, Ada Claire Hight and her husband Jimmy and her son Rob, and nephew Don Hansen and family of Arizona; as well as his first cousins, Ruth Story Holt and family of Jonesboro, Georgia, Charles and Nell Story and their family of Forsyth, Georgia, Hazel and Al Riedl and family of Fredericksburg, Virginia; and the families of Thomas, Richard, William, and Sarah Story; and Mary Beth Seigler Patterson and her family of Greenwood, South Carolina, as well as his many dear and cherished friends throughout his life. The family would like to acknowledge with sincere appreciation and love the staff and administration of LifeCare of Lawrenceville for their wonderful loving care of Judge Patterson during his last few months of life. Judge Patterson will not be remembered only by his words, but also by his kind deeds and Christian spirit. At the end of the day, we all should come to realize that a life lived loving our family and helping others is the only life that really matters. Although Judge Patterson is gone from our eyes, he will never be forgotten in our hearts. The funeral will be at the chapel of Hart's Mortuary on Cherry Street in Macon, Georgia on Wednesday, March 03, 2010 at 2 PM. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at Hart's. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery following the service. The Reverend Joe McDaniel will be officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family is suggesting that donations be made to Young Harris College Foundation, P.O. Box #145, Young Harris, Georgia, 30582, Hebron Christian Academy, P.O.Box 1028, Dacula, Georgia, 30019, or LifeCare of Lawrenceville, 210 Collins Industrial Way, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043 in the memory of Judge Patterson. Register online at www.hartsmort.com. Hart's Mortuary and Crematory, Cherry Street, has charge of arrangements.