Patricia L. Humphries

Pat Humphries died peacefully on September 9th, 2026, surrounded by her family and friends. She was born on November 11th, 1944, in St. Louis, Missouri to George and Mary Lawver. The family moved to Burlington, North Carolina and then to West Palm Beach, Florida, where Pat was a competitive swimmer with her sister, Irene. Pat’s swimming career culminated as a junior Olympian freestyler. Following her cherished father, she attended Duke University. A member of the Duke Choir and Kappa Kappa Gamma, she graduated in 1966.

Pat moved to Atlanta and began her career, first as a bank executive, and then as a 6th grade teacher, first at E. Rivers Elementary School and then at the Lovett School. Pat thrilled at sharing her natural curiosity and love of learning (and FUN) with countless students, which led her to be a favorite that many students still kept in touch with in 2026. In 1972, Pat married her beloved husband, JD Humphries, and together they forged a life around an ethos that would define their family: love was a commitment, family was a duty, and hope was always worth holding onto. They had two children, Josh and Laing Humphries.

With her own journey to motherhood being one of perseverance, patience and resilience, Pat helped found the Georgia Chapter of RESOLVE: The National Infertility and Family Building Association, and served as its Chapter Secretary. After obtaining her masters from Georgia State University, Pat continued serving as a source of wisdom and comfort to couples struggling with infertility as a counselor. While she dedicated herself to infertility causes and spoke often of how meaningful this work was to her, she took particular pride in helping hundreds of Atlanta couples have children despite facing initial hurdles, as she and JD had.

Pat loved every minute of motherhood. She was on the sideline of every athletic or other event for Laing and Josh, always cheering (very) loudly. She reveled in their successes, supported them in their challenges, advocated fiercely for them, and never left a doubt about her expectations, her pride, or her love. She and JD focused on several values in raising their children, but prioritized the value of kindness. She also instilled this value in her grandchildren, to whom she was "Momm-o".

Pat was fun, spunky, warm, and fiercely loyal -- a trait she shared with her mother and sister, and passed on to all who knew her. She loved music, reading, traveling the world, Renaissance art, and learning history. She found endless joy, and loud raucous laughter, in "old" Saturday Night Live, Monty Python, Black Adder, Mel Brooks, as well as the Far Side and various other newspaper comics. She loved deeply and was so very loved in return.

Pat is predeceased by her parents and her husband of more than 50 years. Her memory is treasured by her sister, Dr. Irene Lawver (Steve Kendrick), her daughter, Laing Humphries, her son, Josh Humphries, her daughter-in-law, Katie Humphries, her three grandchildren, Lucy, George and Phoebe Humphries, her sisters-in-law Nancy Thomas and Judy Humphries, her nieces and nephews, Chris Lexow, Jessie Lexow, Bailey Humphries, Chip Thomas (Stacey), Chuck Thomas (SieYeon), Lindsay Thomas, Everett Thomas, her great nieces and nephews, her cat Sox, and a tremendous amount of friends that she called family, including Cathy Temple.

A celebration honoring Pat's life and legacy of will be held at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, September 25 at 10:00 AM. The Cathedral is located at 2744 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30305. The family will have a private funeral. In lieu of flowers, she wishes her friends make a donation to Duke University on her behalf.