Vivian Louise Lyons Patten, of Port St. Joe, Fla., formerly of Atmore, died Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Port St. Joe.
Mrs. Patten was a native of Atmore and graduate of Escambia County Training School who received a Bachelors and Masters degrees from Alabama State University in Montgomery. Teaching school in Greenville, Miss. and Atmore before relocating to Port St. Joe, she retired with 47 years of service in 2004. A member of the Gulf-Franklin Retired Teachers Association, she started one of the first African-American tutlorial programs in the North St. Joe community. A member of Second Mt. Triumph Baptist Church in Atmore, she moved to Port St. Joe, where she became a member of Zion Fair Missionary Baptist Church. Later, she joined New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church and served in many roles.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 9,at The Body of Christ Jesus Church in Port St. Joe with Rev. Carle Bailey and Rev. Wilhelmina Williams officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery with Turner Funeral Chapel directing.
Mrs. Patten is survived by oneson, Ashton Larry of Panama City, Fla.; three daughters, Sonja (Charles) Maddox of Clinton, Md., Bonita (Samuel) Smith of Panama City, Fla. and Ashley Robinson of Port St. Joe; one brother, Chester Lyons, Jr. of Atmore; one sister, Joyce (C.J.) Lamar of Atmore; two grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nephews, nieces cousins and friends.
Mrs. Patten was preceded in death by her husband, Leroy Patten; her parents, Chester, Sr. and Gussie Lyons; two brothers, Willie Arthur and Carney Lyons; two sisters, Mable (U.D.) Parker and Bertha McMillian; and numerous other family members.
