Fletcher Patterson will be 90 years old on Saturday,
February 7! I surely don’t profess to be
a writer but I would certainly be remiss if I didn’t try to express my feelings
about a man who has had such an impact on my heart and my family.
In spring of 1974, we began construction of our new home in
this little neighborhood. We had heard
that the Patterson’s who had recently moved into their new home across the way
from us had used the same builder we were going to use and we wanted to see if they
were pleased with his work. Amy was
around eight months old at the time. We
timidly marched up the sidewalk and rang the bell. The door was answered by Fletcher’s mother
who was staying with them at the time.
We were cordially invited in even though unexpected. We met Jo and Fletcher and they treated us to
a tour of their home. I can still
remember Fletcher holding Amy in his arms as we walked around. (She had on a little blue gingham sun
suit. Isn’t it funny the things we
remember sometimes?)
Later as construction began in earnest on our house, a man
with a head full of hair came up on a bicycle and chatted with us a while
admiring the work that was being done.
Fletcher, for a while we thought that you and the bicycle man were two
different people. The men who were
laying the bricks on our house were from out of town and had pitched a tent in
the back yard to sleep in while they were there working. One day Fletcher stopped by and noticed the
tent and said, “Bubba, I’ve got extra bedrooms at my house. There is no need for you to sleep in a
tent.” Bubba responded, “Thank you very
much but that is not my tent, but I’ll be glad to let those men know that you
have beds for them.” Boy, did Fletcher
get flustered. That is one of Bubba’s
favorite stories about Fletcher to this day.
As we began to attend church with Fletcher, Jo and Mike,
they became our dearest friends in addition to the best neighbors ever. Mike was a teenager way back then and was a
member of our church youth group. He was
always so good, so respectful and so well mannered. With all the “escapades” that some time took
place with our youth, we could always count on Mike to be rock solid. Through the years as we helped with young
people at the church, Fletcher and Jo always supported our endeavors. Many times they allowed us to use their home
for fellowships. In addition, Bubba and
Fletcher served as deacons together. They went through many trials and tribulations
together trusting that they could share their feelings with each other. For some reason they were always selected for
the Pastor Search Committees. Until
you’ve served in this position, you have no idea the stress that this places on
an individual as they try to do the Lord’s will and present someone to lead a
church full of people they care about.
During the 40 years that we have known the Pattersons, we
have enjoyed many meals together. I was
introduced to so many new delicious dishes at their home. I think that they have always worked together
in the kitchen. Through the years we
enjoyed Mexican Lasagna, Shrimp Casserole, Spaghetti and Meat Sauce, Fresh
Apple Cake, Fresh Coconut Cake, Pecan Pie, and Coconut Pound Cake just to name
a few. During the year that Bubba had
so much back trouble/surgery, he was confined to bed. Fletcher would crawl through the azaleas at
the bedroom window and visit with him every day.
Fletcher has always loved his family, both immediate and
extended. He has always made the effort
to be in touch with all his and Jo’s families.
Until the last few years, they seemed to constantly be attending a niece
or nephew’s wedding or a family reunion of some kind. To this day he knows where they are and what
they are doing.
We all have fond memories of Fletcher Patterson, Church
Organist and Musician Extraordinaire.
Has there ever been an equal to Fletcher on the organ? He would take his place on that organ bench
and hold himself so erect and dignified.
His hands would poise over the keys and his first notes would be “forte”
(that’s loud) and the worship service would commence through his music. “Great is Thy Faithfulness”, “Because He
Lives”, “Amazing Grace”, “My Tribute” and many other favorites were played with
such feeling that your very soul was touched.
Fletcher could also play the piano like no other and although he never
sang a solo, if you ever sat in front of him, you know that he could sing as
well.
The church came to a point where they desperately needed a
new organ. Fletcher had attended a
conference at the new Blue Springs Baptist Assembly and admired the organ they
had there. The church voted to purchase
an organ like that and Fletcher made all the arrangements and oversaw the
installation. I can’t even begin to
remember how much we had to raise to purchase that organ, but it was done in a
short amount of time mainly because of the congregation’s love of Fletcher and
his ministry on the organ.
And this takes me to Fletcher Patterson, the loving and
proud mentor. In 1982, Amy started
taking piano lessons. Fletcher and Jo were
there for her first piano recital and I don’t believe that they ever missed a
one after that and believe me, there were a lot of piano recitals. He put her on the organ bench when her feet
did not even touch the pedals and encouraged her to play. He always wanted her to play something for
him. He was always so encouraging by his
presence and his words. Amy became the
church pianist when she was 14 years old.
She and Fletcher played for worship services, revivals, and special
programs together until she left to go to college. They played some duets that were just
beautiful. I would give anything to hear
them again. Fletcher and Jo were in
Birmingham with us for Amy’s college graduation and they sat with our family at
her wedding because we have always considered them part of our family.
And now, Amy has her own little girl and the cycle starts
over. We have been visiting the
Pattersons with Amelia ever since she was a baby. She always gives them a big hug and wants to
go down to the dock to feed the fish and, of course, Fletcher grabs a bag of
bread and obliges her.
Another tribute to Fletcher and, of course, Jo, is that they
have two fine sons who are devoted to them.
We have known Mike since he was a teenager when we moved here, but in
the last few years we have come to know and appreciate Pat. Both “boys” are willing to do anything they
can to help their parents. For a while
it seemed like every time I went to Walmart, I would see Pat and Lewana
shopping for groceries. Pat would have
his mom’s list. One day I remarked that
I thought it was so sweet how they were helping out and Pat responded that he
would not have it any other way. Mike
feels the same and is always there for them.
Isn’t that an amazing testimony in itself?
Fletcher, you probably don’t know this, but you recently
were a topic of discussion on Facebook.
A comment made about you by Michele Martin Bailey received a number of
comments and over 80 “likes” which basically means that a lot of people agreed
with the complimentary things being said about you.
(Facebook comments were provided to Fletcher privately.)
So, in conclusion, let me wish you a very Happy 90th
Birthday! You’re an amazing man and
you’ve had a tremendous impact on so many lives and continue to do so.
Psalm
91:16 (NAS) "With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see
My salvation."
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