James Patton

To the world we announce and mourn the passing of a great man; simultaneously a husband, father, grandfather, Black man, soldier for his country, and protector of children. These are a few of the significant roles our father, James Patton, played in his exemplary life. He was born June 10, 1942 to Willie Mae Owens and James Dee Patton and passed from this earth December 18, 2010. Growing up outside of Nashville, TN, he came up the hard way. Young, Black, and poor in Tennessee our Father learned survival at a young age in the racist oppression of the deep-south and later in the jungles of Vietnam as a squad leader in the 101st Airborne Division.

Today he is survived by his loving wife Sharon (Pratt) Patton and his sons Jesse, Jimmy D., Vincent, and C.J. Patton, Ernesto Todd and Miguel ‘Mike’ Mireles; daughters Karen Patton, Sharon “Bunches” Patton-Bowers, and Laura Mireles; and sister Sarah Chappell. He has thirty-three grandchildren and six great grandchildren; many cousins, and several loving nieces and nephews who will all miss him greatly. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Wesley Owens, and sisters Dorothy Owens and Margie Quarles and two grandchildren.

Our Father retired from the Ingham County Juvenile home where he worked for 25 years as a child care worker. He started there as a janitor and rose to a position of responsibility without a degree or formal training because of common sense and natural ability. In fact his way of dealing with children at the Juvenile home was termed ‘Pattonology’.

At a time when so many are looking for Black role models we must say to the world that our father was such a man. Home was a haven, we were fed and taken care of, encouraged by example to work, to contribute to our family and society, and above all to respect ourselves and others. The Bible says greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends. Our father demonstrated that love every day.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 22, 2010 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at the Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 900 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing, MI. Funeral Services will be held Thursday, December 23, 2010 at Noon at the funeral home. His body will be interred at Hillside Cemetery in Kalamo Township. On-line condolences may be sent at www.gorslineruncimanlansing.com