Jerald Wray Patterson

Beloved teacher/coach, stepfather, brother, partner and friend, he married Stephen C. Nowell II (Steve) and has a stepdaughter, Deanna Elizabeth Nowell of Lexington, S.C. He was the son of Erbin Aldene “Jack” and Blanche Elliott Patterson, formerly of Hemingway, S.C. Also, he is survived by a brother, Ricky Patterson (Melissa) and a sister Jackie P. Owens, both of Hemingway, SC. Also, he is survived by several nieces, nephews and numerous cousins.

Jerald was born at Johnson Memorial Hospital in Hemingway and was a member of Hemingway Baptist Church. He was a proud 1974 graduate of Hemingway High School where he played basketball. His proudest moment came in 1973 when his basketball team won the state championship and the team was later recognized at the SC State House. He was a 1978 graduate of the University of South Carolina and later received his master’s in education at Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virgina.

Jerald taught at Fulmer Middle School in West Columbia, SC for many years and later at the SC Department of Juvenile Justice, Brookland-Cayce High School and Denmark Olar Middle School. Jerald was a great teacher/coach and competitor, friend off the court and foe on the court. He had the heart of a lion and was a great basketball player. Jerald loved the Carolina Gamecocks and attended most, if not all, home and away games for many years. Also, he loved getting out early to tailgate at the fairgrounds and later at his tailgating spot at “The Coop.”

Jerald is also survived by his furry companions, Lilly, Baker Mayfield and T. Brady.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Jerald’s memory to the Little Mountain Rescue Squad at 219 N Boundary Street, Little Mountain, SC or the Newberry Animal Shelter at 240 Public Works Drive, Newberry, SC.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, Irmo, S.C. A reception will follow the service for the family to greet all in attendance. Inurnment will take place at the family plot in Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia at a later date. Dunbar Funeral Home is handling local arrangements with Fox and Weeks Funeral Home handling the Savannah, Ga arrangements.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.