Henry Louis Patrick

Henry Louis Patrick
Henry Louis Patrick, 84, of Charlotte, NC, died of natural causes Saturday, May 27, 2006 at Carolinas Medical Center. A man of profoundly deep faith and immensely widespread love, he will be remembered - and missed - in so many different ways by the myriad people whose lives he so delicately and meaningfully touched.
Born August 2, 1921, to Andrew Jackson Patrick and Azile Parr in Newberry, SC, he attended public school in both Washington, DC and Newberry before entering Erskine College, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1942. Two years later, in 1944, Dr. Patrick was conferred a Master of Theology degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. He then served for two years as a Marine Corps Chaplain during World War II in the Pacific Theater and, upon returning home, undertook graduate work at both Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary in New York.
Dr. Patrick's long and rich pastorate began at First Statesville Church, and he was later pastor of First Charlotte Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. In 1951, he was named pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, MO, where he served for six years. During this time, he earned a Doctorate degree from Westminster College in Fulton, MO. From 1956 to 1962, Dr. Patrick was pastor of Second Presbyterian Church in Kansas City, MO.
Beginning in 1962, a passionate, more than three-decade-long pastorate at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC, punctuated Dr. Patrick's professional career. In his time there, he spread hope and love through the word of God to countless people and became a cherished friend to an entire community. His divinely inspired devotion to that which is right and just over that which is standard and accepted extended to work involving civil liberties, equal opportunity, and causes of the downtrodden.
Dr. Patrick married Elizabeth Plaxco, an Erskine classmate, in 1946, and began a precious union and companionship that was evident to all. Dr. Patrick is survived by his loving wife, along with three daughters, Jane Patrick Findlay (husband Bill and children, Heather, Laura, Daniel and Claire, and grandchild, Patrick), of Grand Junction, CO, Mary Patrick (husband Alan Hall) of Chapel Hill, NC, and Barbara Patrick (husband Arthur Stock and son Isaac) of Clarksboro, NJ. Dr. Patrick was preceded in death by a son, Henry, who died in childhood.
His friends and family remember him as a man of instantaneously quick wit and razor-sharp intellect, whose numerous life passions ranged from flowers and poetry to sports and driving. He loved learning and expanding his mind, and well-reasoned debates as well as fabulously outlandish tales occupied special places in his heart. As a husband, father, grandfather and friend, he was of a truly special breed. As a minister of God, his powerful voice was unparalleled. Above all else, he was an inspiration, and he had a supreme gift for giving life to messages through his words.
A funeral service will be held at 11 AM today, May 29, at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3115 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28211.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Trinity Presbyterian Church.