Clifton Patterson

Clifton Cleveland Patterson, 85, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, passed away on August 23, 2023, at DCH Medical Center surrounded by his beloved wife and children. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, August 27, 2023, at 2:00 PM at Memory Chapel Funeral Home, with Brother Ken Myers & Brother Bruce Boswell officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in Memory Hill Gardens.

Clifton, fondly known as PawPaw, Sonny, and Brother Cliff, was born to Jesse and Lena Patterson on July 25, 1938. He was the youngest of nine children, all of whom preceded him in death: brothers—Henry, Fred, and Homer Patterson; sisters—Gladys Koster, Bertha Brown, Mary Ellen Shuttlesworth, Hattie Lee Skelton, and Louise Gibson.

He grew up in the Oak Grove community and graduated from Tuscaloosa County High School in 1956. After attending trade school, he worked in the sheet metal field for several years. He worked in the maintenance department at B.F. Goodrich for 38 years until he retired in 2001.

In 1970 he surrendered to the call to preach the Gospel. He pastored numerous churches in Tuscaloosa County and the surrounding area. Most of those years he served as the Associate Pastor and taught Sunday School at Englewood Baptist Church where he was loved by many. Over the years he led many to Christ and discipled preacher boys and countless others.

He and his sweetheart, Sarah (Bailey), were married on August 24, 1956. Together they raised five children—Nita Hallman (Terry), Rita Boswell (Wayne), Lisa Lollar (Jeff), Scott Patterson (Connie), and Jeff Patterson (Sharon). They are the proud grandparents of ten grandchildren—Jason Hallman (Rachel); Michelle Yeager (Beau); Bruce Boswell (Angela); Joseph Boswell; Jennifer Lollar; Jonathan Lollar; Grace Crabtree (Vince); Matthew Patterson; Mark Patterson; Emma Kate Patterson; and eleven great-grandchildren—Jaxon and Lexie Hallman; Sara-Grace, Jaeden, and Zeke Yeager; Lily, Allison, Evan, and Keely Boswell; Jonah Lollar; John Luke Crabtree. He joined three of his precious girls in heaven: Granddaughters—Brittney and Laura Elizabeth Boswell; great-granddaughter—Annika Hallman.

Pallbearers will be Jason Hallman, Joseph Boswell, Matthew Patterson, Mark Patterson, Beau Yeager, Jaeden Yeager, Zeke Yeager and Vince Crabtree.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Don and Peggy Williams, Phillip Guy, Randy and Jane Kimbrell, Ruth Lutes, Fineous and Judy Muntz, Other Walnut Drive friends and neighbors, Little Sandy Baptist Church, Mt. Hebron Baptist Church, Taylorville Baptist Church, Englewood Baptist Church, Dr. David Hinton and the Cancer Center, Dr. Scott Kemp and staff, DCH ER staff, DCH CICU staff, and all the preacher boys he loved and discipled.

He held many titles in his life, but being Daddy and PawPaw were his favorite. He loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them. He loved the Lord with all his heart and served Him faithfully. He will be dearly missed by so many but the legacy he leaves behind—a family that loves Christ and countless friends that he encouraged to serve God—will live on. Great is his reward.