Gloria Jean Patman, age 78, of Atlanta, Georgia passed away Wednesday, January 25, 2023. She was born July 20, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia. In her younger days, Gloria was a runner-up in the Miss Atlanta Teen Pageant. An entrepreneur at an early age, she operated a dance studio as a teenager, teaching other teens to dance in her parents’ garage. Kind and compassionate, Gloria was very caring and touched the hearts of all she knew and met. Her strong Christian faith showed in every aspect of her life. Gloria was a member of the First Baptist Church of Macon where she served as a Sunday School teacher for many years. A loving mother, she stayed active in her children’s lives serving as a Girl Scout and Brownie leader, was a Team Mom for five different sports and a Sorority Mom. She always loved her faithful, longtime furry companion, Freeway. Gloria was a graduate of University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a graduate of Mercer University with a Masters of Eduction. She was a published journalist in New York prior to moving back to Georgia. Gloria had a lucrative journalism career with Warner Robins Air Force Base, writing and preparing speeches for many generals and other leadership personnel. She was the first civilian to be awarded the Black Knight Award for a penpal program she put in place during the Desert Storm and Gulf Wars. She arranged for local students to exchange letters with soldiers who were enlisted abroad during the Gulf War Conflict. Gloria, herself, was an avid letter writer exchanging letters with family members and pen pals. She was was an avid fan of the Atlanta Hawks and Georgia Bulldogs – Go Dawgs!! In addition to all the hats she wore in her busy lifetime, she also served as a Board Member for the Salvation Army. In her later years, as a resident of an assisted living facility, she enjoyed playing (and winning) Bingo, participating in spelling bees, of which she won many awards, and listening to the music of the live entertainers when they were available to perform at the facility. Throughout her life, Gloria never met a stranger, was loved by all whose lives she touched and will be missed by all who knew her.
Preceding her in death were her former husband of 38 years, John David Patman; and her parents, Lt. Col. John R. and Laura Mae (Strickland) Longshore.
Those left to cherish her memory are daughter, Dee Elizabeth Roland (Mike); sons, Scott David Patman (Kathy) and Todd Alan Patman (Christina); three sisters, Susan Meredith, Nancy Cook and Margaret Fitzgerald; grandchildren, Kathleen Whipple (Wyatt), Zöe Roland (Patrick), Jackson Patman, Sara Beth Patman, Will Patman and Payton Graham.
A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 11:00 AM at the First Presbyterian Church of Douglasville, 9190 Campbellton Street, Douglasville, Georgia 30134. A private family service will be held later that day at 3:00 PM at Arlington Memorial Park, 201 Mount Vernon Highway NW, Sandy Springs, Georgia 30328.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory of Gloria Patman to Salvation Army in Macon, Georgia, https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/macon/
Thoughts and condolences to the family may be shared online at www.whitleygarner.com.
Whitley-Garner at Rosehaven Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the services of Gloria Patman.
