Patricia Hyacinth Watson was the eldest child and only daughter of Lurlene Cato and Beresford Watson. She was born on Friday, February 13, 1948 in Kingston, Jamaica. She was a sassy and inquisitive child who would often get into trouble with her brother Carl Watson. Her fondest childhood memories were the Friday fish fry her mother would make while her father played dominoes, when her father would cook and sing in the kitchen all day on Sundays and copying the lyrics in the newspaper so she could sing along to American songs that would come on the radio.
Patricia had a wonderful childhood despite the fact that her mother left Jamaica when she was 10 years old in order to find a better life in England. Her mother tried to send for her and Carl to come to England but her father refused. He vowed to his children that he would raise them to the best of his ability without the help of anyone. He was prideful that they always felt loved and made something out of their lives. Patricia stayed with her father and her brother in Jamaica where she received her formal primary education at the James Town Primary and Senior School. She was also educated at the Excelsior High School. Patricia who is known by her friends and family as Patsy, worked in her father’s grocery shop on the weekends. Her father was impressed by the way she handled herself in the shop. She always made sure any customers who paid on credit made their payments timely. One of these customers included her Aunt. When Patsy would not let her fall delinquent on payments, her Aunt tried to tell her father that Patsy was too cheeky and needed some proper home training. However it made her father proud that she was assertive and had his best interest at heart. She was reliable and trustworthy in his mind. He considered the possibility of her having a business of her own some day and thought she would grow up to become an Accountant. Well, little did he know that Pat had absolutely no desire of becoming an Accountant.
She loved the idea of becoming a Nurse. She loved the way the nursing uniform looked dignified. She admired a ward Nurse who lived on her street, and would always pass by the Nurse’s house just to see her uniform hanging on the clothesline with its heavily starched whiteness moving in the breeze. One day there was an advertisement in the local newspaper inviting young girls to enter the nursing profession. Patricia seized the opportunity and without saying a word to anyone she went to an interview where she was immediately accepted into the program. The matron of the hospital congratulated her and gave her the material for the nursing uniforms. She brought the material home and when her father saw it he was furious. However when he saw how resolute and determined she was, he eventually gave her his blessing.
On January 24, 1968 Patricia entered the University of the West Indies School of Nursing Training program. She told herself that she had 3.25 years to focus on her studies and she would not let anyone or anything deter her from becoming a Nurse. As fate would have it, at 7:30pm on the very first day of school she was introduced to a third year theological student – Neville Buchanan.
When she first met Neville she did not like him because his hair was parted in the middle of his head. She thought to her self what type of crazy person puts a part in the middle of their head; he looks ridiculous. However, Neville was charming and made her laugh. As they walked and talked around campus her spirit warmed up to him. That night Neville knew he was going to marry Patricia someday, and even had the boldness to tell her so. She laughed at him and thought once again that he was completely outrageous. The joke was on her because ever since that fated night Pat and Neville were inseparable. So, maybe Neville wasn’t truly outrageous after all. All around the campus they were seen holding hands. They would walk around in circles and dart behind trees to steal kisses. They were truly in love. Neville graduated before her and became a minister. He was stationed in St. Vincent and Pat stayed in Jamaica to complete her studies. They wrote each other letters all the time and till this day Pat has held onto to those love notes from Neville. Patricia had a dream to study midwifery in Scotland and Africa, but she was so head over heels in love with this young man from an island she had never heard of. So, Patricia and her beau were married one month after her graduation on July 3, 1971. She moved with him to St. Vincent and thought to herself where in the world did this man take me. Because in those days, St. Vincent was rural compared to Jamaica. They only had one telephone line in town and she was far away from all her friends and family. She was a little lonely there but she had the love of her life to keep her company and she took up classes learning how to bake wedding cakes and arrange flowers. She always loved learning and trying new things. She shared the skills she learned by teaching a cake decorating class to young woman in the church. Many times Neville would eat the cakes that she had prepared for class and she had nothing to decorate.
On July 15, 1972 her first child- Jacqueline was born and they left St. Vincent shortly after for Grenada. Throughout Neville’s ministry Pat was very supportive and followed him from island to island to preach the word of God. Their favorite appointment was in Barbados where they made long lasting friendships. In 1973 they relocated to Boston and then New York so Neville could continue his theological studies. Shortly after they had their second child Stacy-Ann and their third child – Heather. In the church, Patricia served on many councils and committees with Neville. She was an effective chairperson on these committees and their success made her realize that she wanted to go back to school to finish her dream of going as far with Nursing as she possibly could. So, as a devoted wife with three kids, a full-time job in the ICU and a member the church choir – She enrolled at Medgar Evers College in the Bachelor’s of Science and Nursing program. She was an extremely dedicated student, coming home from work to spend time with her kids and after they went to bed; working tirelessly through the night studying or writing papers. Neville was always by her side encouraging her. They were truly a team and the epitome of a loving couple who helped each other realize their dreams. She graduated from Medgar Evers College with Magna Cum Laude honors, all the while making the balancing act of her life look effortless. With Neville’s encouragement she continued her studies at Long Island University attaining a Master’s degree in Public Administration. Patricia never gave up on that dream of becoming a Nurse. She was always sure of herself no matter the adversity she faced. In 1990, Pat and her family relocated from New York to Florida. She was employed as a Director of Nursing in several nursing homes and taught nursing classes to LPN students at Sheridan Technical College. She became the first black Director of Nursing in the Catholic Archdiocese Health System. She never let that intimidate her because she intuitively followed the divine call in her life and went where the voice of God led her. She enjoyed what she did, but eventually deep down she had an empty feeling that there was a greater purpose that God was calling her to serve. She had an idea to branch out on her own and open an assisted living facility. She was fulfilling the purpose her father saw in her life many, many years ago- to become a business owner. Patricia being a dedicated woman of faith fasted and prayed over this decision. The road to open Potter’s House was challenging, some banks wouldn’t give them a loan and finding a property was difficult, but on June 17, 1998 the Potter’s House Assisted Living Facility became reality. Her desire to help others (especially the elderly) by providing excellent and loving nursing care was accomplished. She built the Potter’s House from the ground up. She had a vision for what the Potter’s House would mean to her clients. No matter how many people tried to talk her out of starting a business because it was too risky or thought this venture would be too difficult for a black woman in particular. Patricia never took no for an answer, she never listened to their fears and always believed in God’s foresight for her life. The name Potters House is a testimony to her intuitive following of God’s purpose for her life. For God’s people are as clay in the master’s hands, there is nothing God’s people cannot be so long as they are being shaped by God’s hands.
When Potter’s House opened Patricia did not have any clients, she even faced foreclosure on her business and her primary home at the same time as having two kids in college. Her struggles were immense, but she always kept a steadfast faith, prayed and meditated. As of today, Potter’s House has been open for 21 years. It has sustained her family, sustained the lives of everyone involved from the clients to the dedicated staff. After years of working at Potter’s House Patricia was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2012. She took sometime off to seek treatment, but she came right back to work. She loved her clients as if they were her children. If she wasn’t there she was always talking about them, buying something for them or worrying over them. Blessing their lives with joy was her life’s purpose. She lived a life dedicated to service. Patricia also loved to sing, cook and finish daily crossword/word search puzzles. She was on the choir at Faith United Methodist Church in Boynton Beach, where she enjoyed singing about the Lord. She also was an avid world traveler and in all of her travels she enjoyed Israel the most. She always talked about how it was honor to walk where Jesus walked and that she cried when she visited the Garden of Gethsemane. She described the olive trees with roots so thick and deeply rooted you could see their history in each branch. You could see she was transported back there each time she recounted her experience.
She planned to go on a trip with Neville this year to celebrate their 48th anniversary. Unfortunately, in June of this year she was diagnosed with stage 4 Breast Cancer that metastasized to her liver and bones. Patricia knew that this time she was going to be with God in paradise. She often told her family how grateful she was to spend these final days with them and tie up loose ends. Everyone thought she would recover, but being the spiritually connected woman she was, she knew it was time. She said God told her to stop fighting and be at peace. Two weeks later on August 15th, Patricia passed on to be with the Lord. When she died she had a look of elation and pure radiance on her face. The gates of heaven opened for her and the gleaming streets paved with gold are now her eternal home. She is no longer in pain, she fulfilled God’s plan for her life in physical form and now she will fulfill his plan in spiritual form.
Patricia is survived by the love of her life Neville, her three children, her four grandchildren, her brother and sister, many friends and family. She was everyone’s aunty and confidant; she gave the wisest advice and could hold a secret like a vault. She had a light radiating from her that made everyone she met feel loved and welcome. We miss her beyond space and time. Our family will never be the same, she was our foundation, but we know she is all around us guiding us each day. So, Patricia if you are listening we love you, we are honored that God blessed us with your presence and we will see you again one glorious day as one of the heavenly angels
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