William Lindsey Patterson

William Lindsey Patterson of Henderson passed from this world to his reward on December 4, 2020. He had battled leukemia for years but was unable to overcome his latest illness.

He was born October 2, 1930, the oldest child of Joseph R. and Voila Dunn Patterson. He lived the hard life of a Depression era child, but never forgot his roots. He married the love of his life, Sarah Frances Naylor, and they raised their 3 children: Anthony Lynn (Ramona McDowell), Anita Gail (Robert DeTorres) and Susan Janette (Montgomery Nye). He and Sarah also raised 10 foster children together by working in retail, insurance and serving in the National Guard. Lindsey was an accomplished musician who played guitar with Carl Perkins and The Boys from the Tennessee Hills prior to devoting his life to ministry. Ultimately, he returned to Henderson to attend Freed-Hardeman College in 1964 and obtained his bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Christian College in 1967 to better prepare himself to serve churches in Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi and Michigan. Sarah worked to support him in his preparation and they both worked for Lansing Community College until they retired and returned to Chester County. He continued to preach locally but spent his last years lovingly caring for Sarah as her memory failed.

He loved his children and his 6 grandchildren and their spouses like they were his own. He reveled in the time he could spend with his 8 great-grandchildren. But most of all he loved the Lord and His church and missed being able to assemble with the saints as his health failed. He was a devoted student of the Scripture and recently had donated his extensive library to the Memphis School of Preaching. He was a kind and gentle soul who will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents but also leaves his wife, Sarah and 2 sisters, Jo Pearson of Jackson and Judith Patterson of Corinth, MS.

Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Monday Shackelford Funeral Directors – East Main Chapel with Dave Phillips officiating. Burial will follow at Old Friendship Cemetery south of Henderson.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM Monday.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to the William Lindsey and Sarah Naylor Patterson Endowed Scholarship for nursing students at Freed-Hardeman University.