Patricia Williams

And poured out a drop

That joined with another, multiplied & grew

Quenched & refreshed a lifetime through

And now, to the heavens is renewed

Patricia Williams

March 19, 1944-April 12, 2013

Passionate, gifted, and black describes Pat who passed on Friday, April 12, 2013 from Beth Israel Hospital. She was born on March 19, 1944 in Morrisania Hospital in the Bronx. From the beginning, she lived life on her own terms. Pat was a lifelong resident of New York City and educated in its public schools. She received her Associate of Applied Science degree from Bronx Community College in 1964, Bachelor of Science in Nursing from New York University in 1968, a degree as a Physician’s Nurse Assistant in pediatrics from Cornell University, New York Hospital School of Nursing in 1974 and a MA from New York University in 1979. Pat worked for the New York City Department of Health as a public health nurse, nurse practitioner, district supervisor and a consultant.Pat never let her nursing certification lapse even after she retired from the NYC Department of Health with more than 35 years of service. To remain certified was very hard for Pat because she never felt comfortable using a computer, the only way to take the biannual recertification examination. Not surprisingly, she never failed and nailed it each time. As a Life Member, Pat was active in the National Black Nurses Association throughout her career.

Pat’s love of music and dancing strengthened when she won one of the most famous New York City dance competitions, the Harvest Moon Ball, in 1958. Her reward as the winner in the jitterbug category was an appearance on the Ed Sullivan TV show.

For a time, Pat was a back-up dancer for the James Brown review traveling with the dance troupe throughout the chitlin’ circuit. At any event with music, we could always count on Pat to be on the dance floor. Most recently, Pat said that she requested that the physical therapist play music to facilitate her healing while in rehabilitation for her hip.Pat was the ultimate professional and being a nurse was the highlight of her life. When assigned as a school nurse, Pat always became the community nurse, offering medical care to the families of her students.She also loved to mentor young nurses. Her family relied heavily on her too, sometimes referring to her as Dr. Williams because she provided a wide range of medical advice from diagnostician to patient advocate.Pat left an impression on everyone she met. She took great pride in her appearance. She loved looking good: her outfits, accessories, hair, nails. Everything was coordinated to the nines. You could always count on her to be supportive and nurturing if need arose.Pat had a brand of determination that was inspiring; insurmountable barriers just did not exist for her. Pat was super-generous. Her trust in humanity was pure. Her faith was extremely strong. Pat was an active member of not one but two churches that she loved dearly-Transfiguration where she was christened and baptized as a child and Bethel Gospel Assembly where she was recently baptized again. She believed that God would carry her through any and everything and we know that’s where she is now—in His everlasting arms.Pat was preceded in death by her partner Marilyn Jurglyns, parents Peter and Doris Williams and beloved cat Persia. She is survived by her sister Viola Bostic of Marlton, NJ; her nephew R aphael Bostic(Jeffrey Taylor) and niece Ebony Bostic (Du Tran) of Pasendena, CA; many godchildren, including Patricia Walser of Teaneck, NJ and Allison Hamilton Knowings, Tanasia Williams and Lisa Hackney all of New York City; and of course, Lily and Pumpkin. A host of loving cousins and community of friends also survive her.

Services were provided by the Walter B. Cooke Funeral Home, 352 E. 87th Street, New York, NY 10128. Telephone: (212) 535-1500.