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Willie Herman Patterson, better known as Willie and Poppy to friends and grandchildren, joined his savior on Saturday, December 18, 2010 at Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County.  He was born on December 17, 1931 in Rocky Mount, VA to the late Willie Oatie and Serena Smith Patterson.  He was preceded in death by one brother, James Henry "Jim" Patterson; his paternal grandparents, Reuben and Ida Tyree Patterson and maternal grandparents, Charles Edward and Mary Jamison Smith.

He graduated from Albert Harris High School in 1951.  He later met Bessie Lee Hairston with whom he has been married to for the last 55 years.  He was of the Baptist faith.  He served in the Army for 4 years and in the Army Reserve for 25 years.  He retired from J & J Southeast Container after 30 years of service and he drove the school bus for Martinsville City Schools for 30 years.

He loved working on his peach trees.  He liked to laugh and was always happy.  He always told stories and had a home remedy for any and everything.  Tom and Jerry was his favorite cartoon.  He especially loved kids so much that he took the job driving the school bus, which was the highlight of his day.

Surviving are: his wife, Bessie Lee Patterson, of the home; one daughter, Sherry P. (Victor) Carter, of Pasadena, MD; two sons, Willie H. "Buck" Patterson, annd John Wesley (Kacy) Patterson, Sr, both of Martinsville, VA; seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild; two sisters, Ernestine P. (James) Morrison, of Ridgeway, VA; and Jean P. Wilson, of Martinsville, VA; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 1:30 PM at Hines Funeral Services Chapel.  Rev. Golden Carter will officiate.  Burial will follow in Carver Memorial Gardens.

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Hines Funeral Services, Inc.