Sharon Patterson

Sharon Patterson, 71, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on January 5, 2016. A celebration of the life of Martha Sharon Patterson, former Superintendent of the Bibb County School District, will be held on Tuesday, January 12, 2016, at 3:00 p.m. at Vineville Methodist Church, 2045 Vineville Avenue, Macon, Georgia. A reception will follow at the church. Sharon was born in Beloit, Wisconsin to Gaylord Patrick and Martha Jeanne O'Connor. Sharon grew up in Louisiana, Missouri and later graduated from Jefferson City High School. Her father was a Prosecuting Attorney and her mother was a school teacher. On August 6, 1966, she married Ernest Richard Patterson, her college sweetheart. They were married 49 years and had one child, Brian Vance Patterson, in 1971. Sharon earned degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia, the University of Missouri-St Louis, and the University of West Georgia. In 1977, the Pattersons moved to Marietta, Georgia. The couple would later say, "the best move we ever made was to Georgia." Sharon then served as a school counselor at Tapp Middle School. In East Cobb, they developed long and everlasting relationships with neighborhood friends, with whom they enjoyed socializing, playing bridge and tennis, and attending sporting events, including Georgia football games and an annual trip to the Atlanta Braves spring training. The Pattersons vacationed annually at Sea Pines Plantation and often returned to Louisiana, Missouri to be with her family. Sharon Patterson dedicated her life to education and served over 40 years in public education. She began her career as an English teacher and later became a guidance counselor. After completing her Education Specialist degree, she served as a principal at East Cobb Middle School, Powder Springs Elementary School, and A.L. Stanback in North Carolina. While a principal at East Cobb Middle School, the school was named a Georgia and a Blue Ribbon National School of Excellence. In 1997, Sharon was hired as Assistant Superintendent in Bibb County for Special Projects, and then was named Interim Superintendent in June 1999 until January 2000. Maya Angelou wrote, "I looked up the road I was going; and back the way I had come; and since I wasn't satisfied with either; I decided to cut me a new path." According to her colleagues, when the history of twenty-first century Macon and Bibb County, Georgia, is written, that history will record that Sharon Patterson, the first female superintendent of the Bibb County School System, cut a new path for public education on behalf of the children and citizens of this county. Under her leadership, she brought about a system change focused on accountability and academic excellence. She attracted statewide recognition for her leadership role in promoting academic achievement through systemic change. Sharon, along with her Board, had three referendums on the ballot since 1999, and all were passed with overwhelming community support. As a result, she focused on consolidating, rebuilding, and developing the schools in Bibb County, including consolidation of Weir and Bruce Elementary, Tinsley and Taylor Elementary, Burdell and Hunt Elementary and Winship and Clisby Elementary; rebuilding of Bruce, Taylor and Burdell Elementary and Vineville Academy; built new schools Skyview, Rutland Middle/High, Howard Middle/High, Hutchings Career Center, Central Kitchen, Heritage Elementary, Ingram-Pye Elementary, Ballard Hudson Middle, Southwest High, Central High, Northwoods Academy. She also oversaw the final fulfillment of the Desegregation Orders declaring Bibb County Schools a Unitary School District. She further led the Bibb County School District to become fiscally independent in July 2005, as the Board of Education set its first millage rate ever without a tax increase from the previous year. Sharon received numerous awards for her dedicated service. She was named the 2005 Georgia Superintendent of the Year and was one of four finalists for National Superintendent of the Year; she received the 2005 Georgia School Superintendents Association Bill Barr Leadership Award; was named the American Cancer Society 2008 Superintendent of the Year for the South Atlantic Region-Relay for Life; the National Award of Merit from Boys and Girls Club of America for her community service; the Woman of Achievement - Career Women's Network and the Circle of Friends Award from the American Cancer Society for outstanding service. Sharon was actively involved with the Macon Economic Development Commission and was the first Bibb County Superintendent to serve on the Commission. Sharon served as 2006-2007 President of the Executive Board of Urban Superintendents Association of America. She also served on several other boards such as Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Leadership for School Improvement - Advisory Board, the Macon-Bibb County Health Department, American Cancer Society and Tubman African-American Museum, and was a trustee at the Macon Museum of Arts and Sciences. Sharon was also an active member of Rotary. Sharon was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, friend, and a loving grandmother. She was dedicated to the care of her parents and of her husband, Richard. Sharon is preceded in death by her husband and her parents. She is survived by her son Brian, his wife Amanda, and their two children Vance and Anna of Athens, GA; brother and sister-in-law Dan and Kay O'Connor of Denver, CO; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law John and Cheryl Patterson of Columbia, MO. Her remains will be interred at a later date in Fairview Cemetery, Louisiana, Missouri. Register online at www.hartsmort.com. Hart's Mortuary at the Cupola has charge of arrangements.

After the service