Lilian Patterson

Petrie

Lillian Patterson Petrie was born to Albert and Mary Ora Patterson on October 19, 1932 in Fayette County, PA. She attended Brownsville High School in Fayette County. She obtained a real estate license in Punta Gorda, Florida (50's). She earned a paralegal degree at Edison Junior College in Meridian, Mississippi. She owned jewelry concessions that traveled to state fairs. She owned and operated the Grandstand Palace Restaurant at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus, OH. She was a survivor of breast cancer. She had a mastectomy of the left breast in 1974. Because of her experience with cancer, she opened a boutique that offered supplies and services to (bras, wigs, prosthesis). She came to Thomasville in 1970 and purchased a farm of 60 acres and planted a pecan grove, and other flowering fruit. She was an animal lover, she kept 9 poodles and 3 cats throughout the years. She was known to carry dog treats for the dogs in town. She was an entrepreneur and philanthropist. She was a member of The Order of Eastern since the late fifties, the Alibar Shrine Guild, First Newark Baptist Church, and Thomas County Garden Club. Her philanthropy includes Humane Society, St Jude, and Treehouse Advocacy, animals and children. She was an avid traveler, who had been to many countries and every state in the U.S. Traveling and history tours were her hobbies. She had TVAR surgery and replaced her aortic valve with a pig valve. She donated her body to be used for medical research and then cremated to be buried alongside the remains of her beloved pets on a special plot of land. She is survived by her stepson, John Gabhart and his family, and her chosen family of Bev Rafferty and her daughters.