Grace May Lyle Patterson

GRACE MAY LYLE PATTERSON was the daughter of the late David and Kisiah Lyle. Grace was born on November 6, 1927 in Baltimore, Maryland. She departed this life on Friday, April 14, 2023 at ninety-five years of age. Grace was the oldest of nine children. Her sister Marian was thirteen months younger than her. Grace and Marian were very close and they lived near each other. They raised their children together, traveled together, and did many other things together. Grace was raised in the western part of Baltimore City. She was educated in the Baltimore City Public School System. Grace was an honor student who graduated from Frederick Douglass High School. She later attended Morgan State University where she received a Bachelor’s degree and later on when on to obtain a Master’s degree in Social Work. Grace attended Union Memorial Church in her early years. In her later years she attended Elderslie-St. Andrews United Methodist Church. She was a very active member at Elderslie. She was over the Senior Ministry and the Pastor’s Care Ministry. Grace was employed at the Maryland Department of Human Services and retired as Assistant Director. Her employment there lasted nearly fifty years. Grace found the love of her life when she met and married Walter Melvin Patterson, Sr. They were married fifty years. From this union their son Walter “Walty” Melvin Patterson, Jr. was born. Grace was proud when Walty became a pastor. All three of them had a very special and close relationship. Family was very important to Grace. She maintained a relationship with her eight siblings. Grace was known by her nieces and nephews as “Aunty or Auntie Grace,” “Aunty Gracie”, or “Aunt Gracie”. Other people called her “Amazing Grace.” On Saturday, January 24, 2009 Grace’s family honored her and her sister Marion with an appreciation dinner celebration. This was to thank them all that they had done for the family. Grace was a social butterfly. After graduating from Douglass and Morgan she remained active with both alumni associations. There was always a party or cookout at her house with good eating, card playing, and dancing. If you wanted Grace to attend an event of yours you had to ask her early. She would say “Let me check my schedule”. This was because she was always on the go. There are many other activities that Grace enjoyed. She was a member of “The High Steppers” dance group. She was a regular member of the Waxter Center. Grace was a very nice and loving person. She was a born leader. People used to say, “When they made Grace, they broke the mold”. She would do anything for anybody and she will be missed. Grace leaves to cherish her memory: her son, Walter “Walty” Melvin Patterson Jr.; daughter-in-law, Tina Patterson; six grandchildren, Donte Patterson, David Patterson, Greg Caro (Kiesha), Isimemen “Isi” Patterson ( Jason), Shameka Simmons (Sellano), and Brittney Patterson; six great-grandchildren; two sisters, Louisa Brown and Elissa “Lisa” C. Williams; two brothers, David Lyle and Joseph L. Lyle Sr.; two brothers-in-law, Edward (Mickey) L. Brown, Sr. and Mitchell B. Mock; many nieces, nephews, cousins, other family members, and many, many friends.

Tributes

Grace May Lyle Patterson

November 6, 1927 - April 14, 2023