James Lynden Patterson

James Lynden Patterson was born to William and Corinne Butler Patterson, in February 1948, in Georgetown, Kentucky. He was the eldest of three sons. Known as “Jimmy” to his Kentucky friends and family, he was educated in the Scott County Kentucky School System and he was a graduate of Kentucky State University. At a very early age, he joined Wesley United Methodist Church.

He enlisted in the United States Air Force following graduation where he served as an accounting technician. It was in the Air Force that he acquired the short version of his sir name, “Pat.” Upon completing his Air Force military service, he became an accountant with a private engineering firm and later was an auditor and accountant with the Department of the Navy, Mid-Atlantic Naval Facilities Engineering Command from which he retired in 2015.

He met and married Shirley Lewis, his wife of 52 years. They had three sons; Christopher Lewis (Renita), Gregory James, and Michael Leo (Tiffany). He joined St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church and through the years served as a dedicated usher, member of the Finance Council and live-stream camera operator. He was a Charter member of the St. Vincent De Paul Father Lloyd Stephenson Council 362 of the Knights of Saint Peter Claver and was a 4th Degree Knight of Saint Peter Claver where he served as the Faithful Navigator of Grand Assembly #37. Pat was elated with having completed his Curcillo and its life changing effect on his life. He loved the fellowship developed with his lay Catholic brothers and the increased connection he had with Jesus. Pat was a giving person and loved being a part of helping any and everyone; especially at and through his St. Vincent Parish.

He was preceded in death by his parents, younger brothers Frederick Banks and William Richard Patterson and his sister Yvonne.

Mourning his passing are his wife and children, sister, Helen Caise Wade, grandchildren, Keesha, Tryquissa, Ruby, Christopher Jr., and Marley; his treasured sisters-in-love, Estella Patterson, Pamela Boyd, Patricia Dinkins, Wanda Jones and Valinda Johnson; sister cousins, Cheryl Butler, Cynthia Thomas, Florene Liverpool, Michelle Breckenridge, Sylvia Adams and Diedre Williams. His bonus brother and niece Steven James and Shari James, as well as a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins and special bonus children.

The family will receive friends for a Visitation that will be held at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home & Memorial Park, 2551 North Armistead Ave, Hampton, Virginia 23666, on Friday, September 25, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 230 33rd Street Newport News, VA 23669, on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 10:00am, with a burial to follow at Parklawn Memorial Park.