Patricia Corleen Johnson

At the age of eight, she was lovingly adopted by her great uncle and aunt, Joseph F. Baker, Jr. and Adleaner Baker, and relocated to San Francisco. Patricia graduated from Polytechnic High School and later attended City College of San Francisco. She married at age 18, and from that union two children were born: Michele and Marlon. In 1974, from a later relationship, she welcomed her third child, Melisa, completing her family and bringing new joy and purpose to her life. Patricia cherished all three of her children deeply, devoting herself to their well-being and celebrating each milestone with love and pride.

Pat was the life of the party and hosted many birthday parties, card parties, and New Year’s Eve parties. She never met a party she didn’t like, whether Motown, Michael Jackson or the latest hits, you could always find her on the dance floor or at the card table playing bid whist.

Patricia joined Reid Temple AME Church over 25 years ago at Good Luck Road. She attended faithfully, and every week you could find her in her favorite seat on the back row at the Glenn Dale campus. She retired from Verizon in 2000 after more than 30 years of service. She was an avid sports fan and enjoyed the Washington Redskins (Commanders), tennis, and golf. Her favorite pastime was reading, and you could always catch her with The Washington Post or magazine any day of the week. She loved using her hands and enjoyed crocheting, sewing, and puzzles. Her love for crafting extended beyond herself. She took tremendous pride in teaching her daughters and granddaughter to crochet and was affectionately known as “Teach” by some of the ladies at the community room at the Woodlands Senior Complex. She often said her greatest joy was her children and grandchildren, and she proudly shared their accomplishments with everyone she met.

Patricia was preceded in death by her father Wilbur Lee Ragsdale, mother Edith T. (Ragsdale) Williams, adopted parents Joseph F. Baker, Jr. and Adleaner Baker, and sister Saundra De La Cruz. She leaves to cherish her siblings Diane Peoples, Toren Blunt (Alvin, Sr.) Ernest Austin (Faye), Eric Austin (Leslie); her children Michele Nicholas (Kirk), Marlon Broady (Kisha), and Melisa Leonard; and grandchildren Brandon Parker, Jordan Nicholas, Nikolas Minor, Sydney Broady; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Her laughter, love for family, and joy for life will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew her.