Sheila Patterson

Sheila Hall Patterson, age 100, of Franklin, Tennessee, and formerly Eupora, Mississippi, died peacefully on March 15, 2026, at NHC Place at the Trace in Nashville, Tennessee. She was born Sheila Hester Hall on April 11, 1925, in Portland, Oregon, to Erin Hester Hall and Charles Brandon Hall Sr. She graduated from Jefferson High School and attended a year at Multnomah Junior College, both in Portland, Oregon. In 1944, she and her widowed mother moved back South to be near family in Eupora, Mississippi. She completed her college education at Mississippi State University, where she was a member of Chi Omega Sorority and a Campus Favorite, and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Secretarial Science in 1947. She married John Harpole Patterson of Calhoun City, MS, in 1949. They resided and raised their three children, Kent, Guy, and Dana, in Eupora, Mississippi. Sheila began her Court Reporting career shortly after college graduation when she was appointed as the first Court Reporter for the newly-formed 14th Chancery Court District of the State of Mississippi, which included Webster, Clay, Noxubee, Lowndes, Oktibbeha, and Chickasaw counties. She was fortunate to work alongside several remarkable judges, including Judge R.P. Sugg, Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice, and Judge Lenore Prather, Mississippi’s first female Supreme Court Chief Justice. She retired after 27 years of service at age 64 in 1989. Sheila also worked for eight years (1961-1969) as a Webster County Social Worker and a brief time for T.F. Taylor Lumber Company. After her retirement, Sheila enjoyed traveling with friends, her Bridge Club, her Sunday School class at Eupora First Baptist Church, and Mississippi State University athletics. She was an avid sports fan and had a passion for music, but mostly enjoyed her many friendships and the love of her children and family. Sheila will be fondly remembered for her loving and loyal dedication to her friends and family, her ever-positive attitude and outlook on life, and her resilient spirit. She will be extremely missed, but she has left a tremendous legacy to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of a life well-lived with joy, love, kindness and compassion.

Sheila is preceded in death by her parents, Erin Hester Hall and Charles Brandon Hall Sr., two brothers, Guy W. Hall and Charles Brandon Hall Jr., and her husband, John Harpole Patterson. She is survived by her three children, Kent Douglas Patterson (Diane Moody Patterson) of Franklin, Tennessee, Guy Harpole Patterson (Martha Harris Patterson) of Franklin, Tennessee, and Dana Patterson Drake (Charles William Drake Jr.) of Dublin, California; six grandchildren, Seth Douglas Patterson, Steven Miles Patterson (Cassie), Martin Reid Patterson (Amanda), Erin Patterson Ivey (Carter), Charles William Drake III, and Benjamin Hall Drake; and five great-grandchildren, Adalyn Rae Patterson (Reid and Amanda), Owen Miles Patterson and Lily Sutton Patterson (Miles and Cassie), John Brooks Ivey and Campbell Hayes Ivey (Erin and Carter).

Funeral Services will be held for Mrs. Patterson at 2:00PM on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at First Baptist Church in Eupora, Mississippi, with Visitation also on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 1:00PM until time for services at 2:00PM at First Baptist Church. The Graveside/Committal Services will be held at Eupora First Baptist Church instead of Eupora City Cemetery. A private family burial will follow the services and Mrs. Patterson will be laid to rest in the Patterson family plot next to her husband. Rev. Travis Gray will officiate the services. Pallbearers will be Seth Douglas Patterson, Steven Miles Patterson, Martin Reid Patterson, Carter Ivey, Charles William Drake III and Benjamin Hall Drake. Oliver Funeral Home of Eupora is honored to be entrusted with all arrangements for the Patterson family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that all memorials in Mrs. Patterson's honor be made to First Baptist Church of Eupora, P.O. Box 268, Eupora, Mississippi 39744