Patricia "Patti" Thompson Hodgson

Patricia “Patti” Thompson Hodgson, a woman known for her strength, creativity, and infectious energy, passed away on January 17, 2025, after a long illness. Born in Portsmouth, Virginia on February 19, 1952, to a Navy family, Patricia was one of six siblings (Billy, Bobby, Betty, Patti, Joanie, Timmy) raised by her parents, Elizabeth Kiley Thompson and Comdr. William Francis Thompson, U.S.N, in Katonah, New York.

Patricia was a member of the Class of 1970 at Ladycliff Academy, and her academic journey continued at Marymount College in Virginia. Following college, Patti carved out a successful career in New York City, where she worked as a corporate bond liaison for E.F. Hutton & Company. In the bustling streets of Manhattan, Patricia quickly established herself as someone who combined brilliance with warmth, wit, and the kind of cool confidence that made her stand out in any room.  While the list of Wall Street watering holes where Patti is permanently ‘no longer welcome’ is not very long, it’s also not zero.

It was in New York in the early 1980s where Patti met the love of her life, Thomas "Tom" McEver Hodgson. They married in a beautiful ceremony in August 1981, beginning a partnership that was truly special. Tom, deeply in love with his wife, spent their years together writing her heartfelt letters and preparing nightly dinners, including the memorable first date meal of stuffed artichokes and bananas foster. Their love was an enduring testament to the deep bond they shared.

Together, Patti and Tom raised three children in Atlanta—each of whom carries forward their mother’s legacy of kindness, humor, and a love of life. Patti was not only a devoted and loving mother but also an incredibly talented interior designer whose work transformed homes across the city. Her designs reflected the same warmth and elegance that defined her personality. Beyond her career, Patti was a loyal friend, and a woman who had an innate ability to make every person she met feel like they mattered.

A true lover of life’s simple pleasures, Patti was happiest when surrounded by family and friends, dancing to beach music, singing along (probably with incorrect lyrics) with her favorite tunes, or enjoying a quiet moment with a friend over a glass of wine in her cherished “soft clothes.” Whether she was hosting gatherings at her home, or simply taking a moment for a much-loved nap, Patti made everything feel effortlessly joyful.  

Patricia’s presence in this world will be deeply missed by her loving husband, Tom, her children, Thomas McEver Hodgson Jr., Kiley Hodgson King and Mary Catherine Hendrix, their spouses, Ashley Hodgson, Karl King and Patrick Hendrix, and her cherished grandchildren, Thomas McEver “Mac” Hodgson III, William “Will” Murphy Hodgson, Cecilia Anne King, Charles Thompson King and Penelope Annelise Hendrix. She was immensely proud of her children and the families they’ve created, and her grandchildren filled her heart with joy. She leaves behind a legacy of strength, love, laughter, and a life well-lived, one filled with joy, adventure, and an enduring love of family and friends.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 12:00 PM (Noon), on Monday, January 27, 2025, at the UGA Catholic Center, 1344 S. Lumpkin Street, Athens, GA. Following the service, the family will gather for an interment at Oconee Hill Cemetery. A reception for friends and family will take place at the family home immediately following the cemetery service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring her memory by sharing a story with a friend, dancing to your favorite song, or enjoying a glass of wine in your soft clothes in her honor—after all, that’s exactly what Sweet PT would have wanted. Also consider giving to the LAFD Foundation Emergency Wildfire Fund.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.