The family of Patricia Dell Perkins Orchard announces that she passed peacefully and seamlessly into eternity on September 9, 2021. Our Patti Cake was born in Chattanooga, TN moving to East Point, GA with her family at age 9. She lived in the metro Atlanta area the majority of her life with brief stints in Los Angeles, D.C, Arizona and Mexico primarily to serve her family and further her education. Patti professed her faith in Christ at age 7 to her grandmother, Mama Hagy. She was baptized and mentored in her walk of faith by several wonderful servants of our Lord including her mother, both grandmothers and several aunts and uncles.
Her childhood aspiration was to attend Florida State University and join the circus. This never came to pass as she was married by age 16 and had three children by age 22. Upon becoming a single mother, she earned her high school diploma and continued in lifelong education taking multiple college courses and receiving various certifications. Her primary vocation was as an Intelligence Specialist for the Department of Defense, U.S. Army. She advanced upward through the ranks of civilian service in the Army and retired after well over 20 years of service to pursue another lifelong passion, travel. This was accomplished by becoming a flight attendant with ValuJet / AirTran and by seeing the world on a budget by singing in various traveling groups including choirs at her church, the Georgia Festival Chorus and the Amazing Graces.
Patricia was always looking to help in activities such as volunteering at election polls, teaching immigrants English as a 2nd language, mentoring others including young flight attendants, faithfully tithing her entire life and giving time/money to numerous charities through the years. She was a selfless mother and always put the interest of her children far above her own. For many years she worked as many as 3 jobs at a time adding data entry and medical transcription to her repertoire in order to provide the best opportunities for her kids. She was known as the "worlds' fastest typist" among peers as she could type faster than many modern type writers would allow.
Patricia married the love of her life in 1995 on their shared birthday, October 19th. The first 5 years of marriage to Fred were the most joyous of her life. When Fred fell ill in 2000, Patti shined brightest in her most capable role as caretaker for his last 4 years. When he passed in 2004, she was immediately diagnosed with a form of Leukemia and with Parkinson's Disease. It was not in her God given nature to slow down or give any credence to a label or diagnosis. She continued to work as a flight attendant, sing, travel, play tennis, swim, play piano and enjoy the abundance of life with family and friends as if there was no sickness. Her modus operandi was always to seek God's will and to do whatever it took to bring it to fruition.
Therefore, it was instinctual for her to move her aging mother into her home in 2012, once again becoming the selfless caretaker because she believed that was God's plan. She took care of her mother Virginia for an additional 6 years until she passed in 2018 at the age of 99. Once her mom passed, she began to recognize her own personal failing health though in her tenacity/defiance, she never accepted it, slowed down or gave into it. Her life is a testimony to what can be accomplished for God, others and self via the power of a faith in our Lord that leads to an unwavering commitment to do whatever is necessary in every situation to service His will.
Patricia was the 2nd and youngest child born to the late Franklin W. Perkins, Jr. and Virginia Dare Hagaman Perkins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frederick R. Orchard in 2004. She is survived by her sister, Peggy Kerman (Horace) of Overton, Nevada and by her three children whom she believed were the joy and blessing of her life: Scott Stewart (Tammy), Cindy Stewart (Rick Hyde) and Todd Stewart (Jan) all residing in the Atlanta area. She had 5 loving grandchildren: Brook Quarmby (Brett), Lindsey Sasser (Mike), Savannah Ansett (Eric), Jacob Stewart and Nathan Hyde. She is also survived by 6 great grandchildren whom she adored: Corbin, Camron, Analise, Ellora, Tristen, and Gaberial.
Her Funeral Service commences on Wednesday September 15th, 2021 at Noon at H.M. Patterson & Son Chapel, 1157 Old Canton Rd. Marietta, GA. 30068. She will buried with her husband at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Her family simply echoes the words of Jesus to their beloved Patti Cake: Well done good and faithful servant, enter in the joy of your Lord.
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