Magdalena "Mandie" M. Patterson

PATTERSON, Magdalena "Mandie" M., of Henrico County, a retired state employee and widely respected leader in the field of crime victims' rights, passed away on Friday, March 16, 2012. Born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, on September 19, 1951, she grew up in Cape Town, South Africa, before moving to the U.S. in 1964. A graduate of Yorktown High School in Arlington, she earned her undergraduate and master's degrees from Virginia Tech and began her career of state service in 1974, as a counselor for the Virginia Department of Corrections. After serving as one of the original ombudsmen for the Department of Corrections, she moved to the Department of Criminal Justice Services, where she was instrumental in the creation of, and for many years managed, the state victim-witness program. A committed and effective advocate for victims of crime, Mandie built an enviable reputation on both statewide and national levels. Throughout her career, she worked with Commonwealth's attorneys, sheriffs, police departments, and local victim-witness coordinators to institute training programs for local officials to better serve the needs of crime victims. Following her retirement in 2010, Mandie served as consultant to the U.S. Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime, assisting other states in establishing training academies for local law enforcement and criminal justice personnel. As an adjunct faculty at the University of Richmond, Mandie taught an undergraduate course in Victimology. Among her many professional accomplishments, she was a longtime member of the National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators ( NAVAA ), which she served as president in 2009. She was the first recipient of the Grimm Award from the Sexual Assault Resource Agency. An avid gardener and enthusiastic traveler, Mandie and her family made numerous visits to her native South Africa and traveled widely in Europe and across the U.S., often following the fortunes of her children's youth sports teams. She is survived by her husband, Kendall C. Patterson; son, Andrew Charles Patterson; daughter, Caitlin Amanda Patterson; stepdaughter, Kelly Farmer and her husband, Dean, of Rustburg; sister, Francina Boney; and nephew, Curtis Boney, both of Laurel, Mississippi; brother, Glen Meyburgh of Port Elizabeth, South Africa; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews in South Africa.In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations or remembrance to the VCU Massey Cancer Center, c/o Development Office, P.O. Box 980214, Richmond, Va. 23298. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Friday, March 23, 2012 at the Parham Chapel, Woody Funeral Home, 1771 N. Parham Rd., Richmond. Condolences may be offered at woodyfuneralhomeparham.com.