Patricia Ann Grizzard

Patricia Ann (Thompson) Grizzard, 83, adored mother of Lee (April) Macdonald of Roswell, GA and Mary (Samuel) Jones of Mechanicsville, VA, passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 6, 2026, after a lifelong and courageous battle with Juvenile Diabetes (Type 1 Diabetes). Her final moments were spent in the comfort of her Chestnut Grove Memory Care apartment in Richmond, VA, surrounded by family.

Patricia was born in Ames, Iowa on September 22, 1942 to Alice (Bell) & Edouard "Tommy" Thompson. In 1950, her family moved to Tucson, Arizona in search of a warmer climate. A gifted student from an early age, she graduated as Valedictorian of Amphitheatre High School’s Class of 1960 before attending the University of Arizona, where she was a proud member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and earned her teaching degree.

She married her high school sweetheart, Richard Macdonald, a Coast Guard Officer. Together they built a life filled with adventure, moving throughout the country with the Coast Guard, while raising their 2 kids, Lee & Mary. Along the way came ski trips to WV, countless swim meets, 5K & 10K road races, and the kind of stories that become treasured family memories.

Pat began her career as an elementary school teacher before later earning her Master’s Degree in Spanish from Purdue University while raising their children. She went on to become an accomplished Spanish teacher at Oakton High School in Fairfax County, VA, where students also knew and loved her as their cheerleader sponsor. Whether in the classroom or on the sidelines, Pat had a gift for encouraging young people and making others feel supported and valued. Never one to slow down, Pat began a second career after retiring from the classroom, working near Capitol Hill in downtown Washington, DC for the U.S. Sentencing Commission, where she continued her lifelong love of learning and helping others.

Later in life, Pat married John L. Grizzard, a retired Air Force Officer. Together they shared a love of golf, ballroom dancing, and snow skiing before eventually returning to Arizona, where Pat lovingly helped care for her parents and treasured spending time helping to care for several of her grandchildren. An avid golfer, she was especially proud of scoring a hole-in-one!

Through her marriage to John, she warmly welcomed John's son John (Sally) Grizzard of Centreville, VA into her life. Her greatest joy was her family, especially her grandchildren: Christopher, Veronica, Victoria, and Ethan Macdonald and Courtney, Jessica, and Wyatt Jones. Through her marriage to John she was blessed with three additional grandchildren: Evan (Kiley), Ross & Daniel Grizzard.

In Arizona, Pat or Trish — as many lovingly knew her — began another beautiful chapter of life. Her companion, Joe Johnson, a Hall of Fame high school cross country coach, inspired her to rediscover her love of running. Under his encouragement, she trained for the Senior Olympics in Nevada, twice, and proudly earned a place on the Senior Olympic podium in her mid sixties.

Trish eventually settled into a senior community in Tucson where she formed many treasured new friendships, played bridge almost daily, and faithfully walked her dog, Duchess. In 2022, Trish and Duchess moved back to Virginia to be closer to her daughter Mary near Richmond, where she spent her final years surrounded by love and family. Those years were filled with many visits from grandkids, trips to Virginia Tech, St. Francis University in PA, Washington DC, Timberline WV, and even a memorable Quinceañera celebration for Duchess' 15th birthday.

Patricia was preceded in death by her former husband, Richard E. Macdonald, and her second husband, John L. Grizzard. In addition to her kids and grandkids, Trish is also survived by her younger brother, Michael (Judith) Thompson of Tucson, AZ; nephew James (Vikki) Thompson and their children, Phoenix and Austin; and nephew Robert (Becky) Thompson and their son, Josiah as well as some wonderful cousins scattered across the country.

Her family asks that she be remembered not for the sadness of her passing, but for the joyful memories we all have with her throughout her remarkable life. Trish touched the lives of many in the way she made people feel: welcomed, cared for, and loved. Even in difficult moments, she remained endlessly kind, always more concerned about others than herself. A celebration of Patricia’s life will be held at a future date in Tucson, Arizona. Details will be shared by the family at a later time.