Patricia A. Avram

Patricia Avram ("Pat") passed away peacefully on July 11, 2025, at the age of 92 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on February 7, 1933, in Lincolnton, North Carolina, to Calvin Banks Finger and Carrie Hallman Finger. She had three brothers: Banks, Neil, and Linn. Pat graduated from Startown High School in Newton, NC, at the top of her class and went on to graduate cum laude from Appalachian State University. She later earned a master's degree in space planning and interior design from UNC Greensboro.

In college, Pat worked in Lake Placid, where she met her future husband, Garry. The two married in 1955, just before Garry left to serve in the United States Army in Europe. During his service, Pat worked for an insurance company. When Garry was accepted to Cornell University Law School, the couple moved to Ithaca, New York, where Pat worked for Cornell University's Extension Services Department while Garry studied law.

After law school, Garry worked in the legal department of General Foods in White Plains, New York. During this time, Pat and Garry lived in the nearby village of Ossining, where Pat was an active member of St. Paul's Church and involved in many community activities. She even conducted and produced a local fashion show celebrating the history of Ossining. This was a particularly vibrant and joyful time in their lives, as both of their sons, Randy and Andrew, were born during their years in Ossining.

Eventually, and much to Pat's delight, the family returned to North Carolina when Garry accepted a position at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in Winston-Salem. There, Pat launched a successful career as an interior designer with her own firm, Pat Avram Interiors. She spent over 45 passionate years designing homes, offices, restaurants, resort homes, bed and breakfasts, and High Point showrooms. Her work took her up and down the East Coast, from Maine to Miami. When R.J. Reynolds relocated several employees to San Francisco, Pat was even called upon to help design and furnish their homes in the Bay Area.

When their children were young, Pat and Garry loved traveling to Pawley's Island, South Carolina to stay at Mrs. Dingles Tip Top Inn. They were also avid golf and tennis players throughout their lives and were quite the formidable mixed doubles team. Pat played on several USTA tennis teams participating in tennis tournaments all over North Carolina and the Southeastern United States. A lover of the mountains, Pat and Garry purchased a condominium at Yonahlossee Resort in Blowing Rock, where Pat enjoyed hiking and biking along the Virginia Creeper Trail. Summers in Blowing Rock were especially cherished, as their grandchildren often joined them for long weekends for hikes, tennis, and mountain adventures.

Pat played tennis and golf into her late 80s outlasting many of her longtime friends. Even in her later years, you could often find her attending the golf and tennis clinics at Old Town Club or even on the driving range working on her swing. She loved Old Town Club and could be found there every Sunday for brunch with Garry, and later, with friends. As a loyal Wake Forest fan and long-time Deacon Club member, Pat attended Wake Forest football, basketball, and tennis events well into her 80s. She was also a devoted (and often suffering) Charlotte Hornets fan. Whenever a tennis match or basketball game was on, Pat was watching. She and Garry loved attending the ACC Basketball Tournament and the Family Circle Cup in Daniel Island. Through business and pleasure, they traveled the world together.

Pat also gave back to her community and cared deeply for others. She volunteered at the Winston - Salem Open and Ronald McDonald House and was a member of many clubs and organizations including The American Society of Interior Design, The United States Tennis Association, Old Town Club, Taylor Tennis Center, Friends of Ronald McDonald House, Yonahlossee Racket Club, Nature Science Center, Greenbrook Garden Club, Mind Stretchers book club, and St Mary's circle of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Pat and Garry's faith was a cornerstone of their lives, and they regularly attended St. Paul's, where Garry's booming voice could be heard during the hymns.

Pat loved for and cared for her family deeply. She was immensely proud of her sons Randy and Andy, and her 6 grandchildren, David, Andrew, Banks, Tucker, Ally and Gabe. She and Garry cherished hosting the entire extended family for Christmas.

She had an infectious sense of humor that never faded despite her late-in-life health challenges. At her core, she was a proud and affectionate wife, mother, and grandmother who loved her family deeply.

Pat is survived by son Andrew and wife Tammy (grandchildren Gabe and Ally), daughter- in-law Amy (grandchildren David, Andrew, and Banks), and three great grandchildren (Sonny, Craft, and Mary Lane). She was predeceased by husband Garry, son Randy, and grandson Tucker.

A memorial service will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal church in Winston-Salem on July 21 at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem or the Ronald McDonald House.