Mrs. Ella Juanita Patton

PATTON, Mrs. Ella Juanita - Age 71, passed away Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at her residence. Family hour 1:30 PM Tuesday, September 6, 2016 from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., with funeral services commencing at 2:00 PM. Interment Gracelawn Community Cemetery, G-5710 Saginaw St. Family and pallbearers will assemble at the funeral home 1:30 PM Tuesday. Mrs. Patton will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, and may be viewed from 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Monday. Ella Juanita Trice-Patton was born November 20, 1941 in Verona, MS unto the late Robert Lee Trice, Sr. and Cleo Lumpkin Trice. This union brought forth four children, Mabel Trice (Elmer) Miller, of Verona, MS; Clytee Trice (Johnny) Chalmers, of Memphis, TN; Robert “Bobby” Lee (Ester) Trice, Jr. of Chicago, IL and Juanita was the youngest of the home. She also had one step-brother, Dennis (Virginia) Trice of Tupelo, MS and one step-sister, Sarah Long (Allen) Hafford of Cincinnati, OH. Her grand-parents were the late Robert Trice and Diana Williams Trice of Verona, MS. On Wednesday evening, August 31st, Juanita departed this life at home in the midst of family and friends. She was 74. She professed a hope in Christ at an early age and became a faithful member at Chandler’s Temple CME Church in Verona, MS. With a great admiration for music she and her two older sisters, Mabel and Clytee formed the singing group called the “Trice Sisters”. They were invited to sing all across North MS because of their unique voices and vocal harmony. Juanita attended Mary C. Waide and graduated from Shannon High School in Shannon, MS. She worked several years at the North MS Medical Center in Tupelo, MS. She united in holy wedlock to Booker T. Patton Jr. in 1962 and from this union four children were born. They later moved to Flint, Michigan and both worked for General Motors for many years until retirement. After moving to Flint, Juanita joined New Jerusalem Baptist Church, where she was a member of the choir and served on the kitchen committee.. Juanita was known for her infectious laugh, fun loving spirit, her love to cook, and being with her friends and family at various social events. She leaves to cherish her memories, her daughter, Minister Kathryn Renita’ (Sherren) Gilbert of Tupelo, MS; her son, Booker T. (Andromeda) Patton of Tupelo, MS; her daughter, Sandra Rena Patton of Flint, MI; and her son, Reverend Fredrick (Monica) Conners of Jackson, MS. Three grandchildren, Erica Rutherford of Southaven, MS; Chad Lloyd of Tupelo, MS; and Bianca Leonadria Glenn of Tupelo MS. Special cousins, Mayor Robert Joe (Tammy ) Trice of Verona, MS; James (Lottie) Yates, Johnnie Mae (James) Hampton and Ella Ruth Yates all of Chicago, IL. Special friends, Sue Brown, Micheal Ann Banks, Ruth Vickey, Wanda Williams and Vernell Lee all of Flint, MI and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Juanita was preceded in death by her parents, one sister and two brothers. She is greatly loved and will be truly missed.

Mrs. Ella Juanita Patton

November 20, 1941 - August 31, 2016