Opal Patterson

Tupelo - Opal Jean Lindley Patterson, 79, died Thursday, April 17, 2008, at Community Hospice at Darlington Oaks after an extended illness. A native of Red Bay, Ala., she was born December 18, 1928, to the late Louis Sherman and Iva Boyd Lindley. After marrying Wallace R. Patterson, they moved to Tupelo in 1961, where she lived since that time. She spent the majority of her life as a homemaker, caring for her family. Until her health failed, she was an active member of West Jackson Street Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School in the children's department for many years.

Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with Rev. Bert Harper officiating. Burial will be in Lee Memorial Park.

Survivors include three sons, Billy Patterson and wife, Jenny, of Belden, Mark Patterson and wife, Jenna, of Pontotoc, and Tommy Patterson and wife, Allison, of Tupelo; seven grandchildren, Jason, Jared, and wife, Elizabeth, Josh and wife, Amy, Caitlin, Lyndsay, Clay and Daniel Patterson; one great-granddaughter, Emily Patterson; one sister, Bobbie Nell Wiley of Huntsville, Ala.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Wallace R. Patterson who died, Nov.30, 2001; two sisters and one brother.

Her grandsons will serve as Pallbearers.

Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. until service time Sunday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105; or West Jackson Street Baptist Church, 1349 West Jackson St, Tupelo, MS 38801.

Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com