Dr. Patricia Dean Greenwood Harrison was born on January 2, 1937, in Monticello, Arkansas, daughter of Howard Walter Greenwood and Lorene Stewart Greenwood, who later married David Ingram Watson. She was raised in the Watson Chapel area of Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
Patricia graduated from Watson Chapel School as the valedictorian of her class. She was awarded a valedictorian scholarship to Henderson University, where she received her B.S.E. degree in 1959 and was second in her class. She spent the summer of 1959 attending the Institute of European Studies in Vienna, Austria. Patricia received her M.A. in British and European History from Southern Methodist University in 1964. She began her doctoral studies in British History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and received her Ph.D. degree in British History and Modern European History from Tulane University in 1994.
Patricia spent the majority of her career as a Professor of History at the University of South Alabama for 10 years and Spring Hill College for 40 years, where she was Chair of the Department of History for 15 years. Patricia specialized in the Suffragist Movement and was the author of the book, Connecting Links: The British and American Woman Suffrage Movements, 1900 – 1914. She was also known for her numerous articles, reviews, lectures, and documentaries. Throughout her career at Spring Hill College, she received several awards, including Teacher of the Year.
Patricia was a loving wife and mother who met her husband of fifty-five years, Edward Harrison, while attending Henderson College. Edward and Patricia became members of Ashland Place United Methodist Church after moving from Dallas, Texas, to Mobile, Alabama, with their three children Greg, Rebecca, and Laura in 1974.
Patricia is preceded in death by her husband, Edward Lindsay Harrison, and is survived by their three children, Gregory Edward Harrison (Stephanie) of Fairhope, Alabama; Rebecca Harrison Reed (Justin) of Annapolis, Maryland; and Laura Harrison Byrd (Michael) of Great Falls, Virginia. She is survived by four grandchildren, Rowan and Emma-Graye Harrison of Fairhope and Ian and Clara Byrd of Great Falls, Virginia. She is preceded in death by her sister, Margaret Geist, and her nephew, David Doss. She is survived by her nieces, Shelly Williams and Jennifer Foster of Birmingham, Alabama, and Suzanna Greer and Holly Barrow of Arlington, Texas.
Funeral services will be held at Ashland Place United Methodist Church at 2:00pm on Wednesday, August 25th, 2021. Burial will follow at Pine Crest Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of Radney Funeral Home, Mobile, AL. Condolences may be offered at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com.
