Elizabeth Johnston Patterson

1939 - 2018

Elizabeth Johnston Patterson

SPARTANBURG--Elizabeth Johnston Patterson, 78, of Spartanburg, SC, died Saturday, November 10, 2018 at her home. Born November 18, 1939, in Spartanburg, she was the daughter of the late SC Governor and U. S. Senator Olin DeWitt Johnston and Gladys Atkinson Johnston.
Elizabeth attended public schools in suburban Maryland and was a 1957 graduate of Spartanburg High School. She received a Bachelor's Degree from Columbia College in 1961, studied Political Science at the University of South Carolina in 1962, and received a Master's Degree in Liberal Arts from Converse College in August 1999.
Serving as a Public Affairs Officer with the United States Peace Corps from 1962-1964 and VISTA from 1965-1966, Elizabeth also served as administrator with Head Start in Columbia from 1966-1968. Her selfless service to our City, State and Nation includes working as a staff assistant for Congressman James Mann 1969-1970; election to Spartanburg County Council from 1975-1976 to fill an unexpired term; elected to SC State Senate in 1979 serving until 1986 where she worked on the Governor's Task Force on Hunger and Nutrition; elected in 1986 to U. S. Congress (4th District) serving from 1987-1993 and appointed to serve on the Veterans Affairs and Banking Finance & Urban Affairs Committees; as well as running for Lt. Governor in 1994 she won the Democratic nomination but lost the general election.
Mrs. Patterson also worked at Converse College as Director of Continuing Education Converse II Program from 1993-2003; Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Spartanburg Methodist College from 1993-2001; chaired the multi-million dollar fundraising for a new Spartanburg County Library Headquarters on South Church Street, which opened on April 27, 1997; elected President of the Rotary Club of Spartanburg serving as the first and only female president; and she was the honored recipient of the 2000 Kiwanis Club Citizen of the Year.
She was awarded the 2013 Lee Poole Advocacy Service Award from Charles Lea Center; 1989 Converse College - Honorary Doctorate of Public Service; 1987 Columbia College - Honorary Doctorate of Laws; 2009 Lander University - Honorary Doctorate of Laws; and 1999 Wofford College - Honorary Doctorate of Laws.
Mrs. Patterson served on the Boards of the Charles Lea Center - Life Member; Bethlehem Center; SC Independent Colleges and Universities; Spartanburg Methodist College; Wofford College; Spartanburg Boys Home; and Columbia College.
She was a member of Central United Methodist Church of Spartanburg where she served as a Sunday School teacher, UMYF (Youth) Leader, a member of various committees of CUMC over the years, a delegate to Annual Conference, and elected as a delegate to General Conference 2008 and 2012.
Survivors include her husband of 51 years, Dwight F. Patterson, Jr., whom she married on April 15, 1967; sons, Dwight Fleming 'Pat' Patterson, III of Columbia, SC, and Olin DeWitt Johnston Patterson (Stacey) of Campobello, SC; daughter, Catherine Patterson Gramling (Will) of Gramling, SC; four grandchildren, Clara Elizabeth Gramling, William Parker Gramling, Olin Dwight Johnston Patterson, and Ian Nicholas Patterson; and sister, Sallie Johnston Scott of Charleston, SC. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by a brother, Olin DeWitt 'Bubba' Johnston, Jr.
Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 PM Saturday, November 17, 2018, at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel, 2075 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29307. Funeral services will be conducted at 3:00 PM Sunday, November 18, 2018, at Central United Methodist Church, by The Rev. Tom Norrell, The Rev. Luther Rickenbaker, The Rev. Robert L. Brown, and Rabbi Yossi Liebowitz.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Central United Methodist Church, 233 North Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306; or Charles Lea Center Foundation, 195 Burdette Street, Spartanburg, SC 29307.
An online guest register is available at
www.floydmortuary.com
Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel