Patricia "Patsy" Diane Breedlove

Patricia Diane Milam Breedlove, “Patsy”, was born to Billy Patrick Milam and Mildred Luker Milam on Wednesday, May 19, 1954 in Mobile, Alabama. Dauphin Island Parkway was the site of many of her childhood adventures, and she grew up surrounded by her beloved aunts and cousins – cousins that came to mean the world to her. Patsy spent time playing and fishing on the banks of Perch Creek, when she wasn’t twirling her baton with her troupe or earning badges with her Girl Scout Troop. She had a little brother, Billy Perry Milam, and they would race home from school every day – grabbing a barbecue sandwich on the way – so that Patsy could make it home to watch Dark Shadows. Billy, never winning the race, would always tell her, “Go on. I’ll catch up.” Billy may have never made it home first to have a choice in afterschool television programming, but he paid Patsy back by hanging lizards from his ears, instilling a life-long phobia of lizards in her. At fourteen, Patsy met her best friend and soul-sister, Denise Curtis. For the rest of her life, Denise would never leave her side. Patsy moved her membership from Riverside Baptist Church to join Denise at Fulton Road Baptist Church, where they became extremely involved in the Youth Group. She and Denise loved going to Dauphin Island on the weekends. Patsy had an idyllic childhood, one that bred a deep love and devotion for family and friends.

Patsy attended the 20th Century Business School, but had truly learned all of her viable career skills in high school. She began working as a secretary for Baldwin Transfer – a position that would change her life – for it was there that she met Teresa Breedlove. Teresa was married to Jimmy Breedlove, who just so happened to have a single brother, Dennis. Teresa introduced Patsy and Dennis, and Dennis would become the love of Patsy’s life. They were married on Saturday, July 21, 1973 at Fulton Road Baptist Church. A year later, Patsy and Dennis welcomed their daughter, April Elizabeth. Three years after that, a son, Daniel Patrick. Patsy was born with an innate, all-encompassing love for family, which led her to her decision to be a stay-at-home mom. She wanted to spend as much time as she could with her children before they went into school. Patsy and Dennis lived on Dauphin Island Parkway when April and Danny were small, but they bought property and started building a house in Tillman’s Corner. She would put Danny in a carrier on the back of her bicycle, and ride up and down DIP and through Pine Crest Cemetery.

As time went on, and the children set out for school, Patsy made it her life’s mission to inundate herself into their lives as much as possible. She was a room mother for many of their classes, and was an avid participant in every extracurricular activity. April decided to enroll in modeling classes, and Patsy became a personal secretary for Dawn Peterson, the instructor of the “Fashion Dynamiters”. The family was very active with the Youth Group at Tillman’s Corner First Baptist, and were even deemed “The Walsh Family” (90210) by the children of the group. Every weekend teenagers would spend time at the house being fed, entertained, and loved. Eventually, Patsy went back to work for National Piggyback/Alliance Shippers as a secretary, and remained in the transportation industry for many years before becoming an operator and customer service representative for Sears in the tele-parts department.

When her children were grown and married, Patsy’s real life work began. She became “Grams” with the birth of her first granddaughter, and everything in her life began to revolve around her grandchildren. Grams transformed April’s old room into a play room and safe space for her grandchildren, and she became their caregiver until each of them went off to grammar school. Grams attended every school performance, honor assembly, dance, piano, and singing recital, soccer game – she was present for any and every opportunity she had to spend time with her grandchildren. She experienced immense joy in witnessing her two eldest granddaughters graduate from Saraland High School, and was looking forward to watching her granddaughter Faith try out for Azalea Trail Maid, and her granddaughter Molly perform the role of “Beth” in Saraland High School’s performance of “Little Women”. Though Grams won’t be sitting on the front row, because of her faith in God, we know without a doubt she’ll still be watching.

Patsy LOVED Soap Operas. She watched General Hospital until the day she was admitted to hospice. She loved the Golden Girls, Lucille Ball (even dressed as her for Halloween one year), Andy Griffith, westerns, and taking photos and videos. Patsy had a hobby of collecting magnets, and was an avid genealogical researcher. She built several family trees over the years. Also, there may never be another woman as organized as Patsy to grace the earth. Patsy had Chili Night every Halloween, and adored the holidays – Christmas being her favorite. She had a poodle, Fifi, that was her heart, and because of that her daughter April and granddaughter Molly have both owned poodles.

Out of everything that can be said about Patsy’s life, the most important detail is how fiercely she loved her family – the cousins she grew up with, her aunts, brother, husband, children, and grandchildren – will all testify that Patsy emanated love. It ran through her veins, beamed like a ray of light from her, and engulfed anyone that encountered her. In 2014, her Aunt Mae suffered a stroke, and Patsy became her primary caregiver. She attended Mae until she passed, taking great pains to make sure Mae was comfortable and well cared for. Any accomplishment of Patsy’s pales in comparison to her love for her family and friends, and that is her legacy that will continue to live on.

On the night of Wednesday, October 18, 2023, after a two year struggle with a rare form of bile-duct cancer, Patsy went to be with her Lord and Savior. She had a firm belief in God, and is at peace. But she left behind a void, and all who loved her will be anxious to see her again. In the words of her brother, Billy, “Go on. We’ll catch up.”

Patsy was survived by her loving and devoted husband of 50 years, Dennis Breedlove; daughter, April McGuire (Marc); son, Danny P. Breedlove (Lisa); grandchildren: Grace Hannah Breedlove, Mia Elizabeth McGuire, Faith Madison Breedlove, Molly Midori McGuire, Daniel Elliott Breedlove, and Hadley Joy Breedlove; brother, Billy Perry Milam (Bobbie); special sister-in-law, Teresa Breedlove (Jimmy); best, and life-long friend, Denise Curtis (Bobby); the cousins she loved so much; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and other cherished family and friends.

Visitation for Patsy will be held on Monday, October 23, 2023 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Pine Crest Funeral Home on Dauphin Island Parkway in Mobile, with a chapel service immediately following. Interment will be in Pine Crest Cemetery.

Active Pallbearers include Braxton McCurdy, Daniel Breedlove, Adam Spiller, Brad Watson, Curtis Simpson, and Sean Breedlove. Serving as Honorary Pallbearers are Jeff Robinson and Marc McGuire. Wayne Benbow will be presiding over the service.

The family would like to extend the utmost gratitude to the Hospice Retreat at SAAD’s, Northside Clinic, Dr. Paul Hannon with Interventional Radiology at Mobile Infirmary, Dr. Vikas Dudeja at UAB, Dr. Yunus and Meredith Veazey, P.A. of Infirmary Cancer Care for the care and love shown to Patsy, as well as the extra time they provided with Patsy.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made for the care and treatment of Mary Davis Rutledge, a two year-old battling cancer. www.gofundme.com/f/help-mary-davis-rutledge-beat-cancer.