Clarice Patterson

Clarice Patterson was born on January 29, 1953, in Newark, NJ to Henry Lee and Yone Clarice Patterson. Clarice lived a vibrant, loving, fun-filled life before entering her eternal rest on December 17, 2024.
Clarice received her education in the Newark school system. She graduated from South Side High School in 1971. Afterwards, she went on to Roberts Walsh Stenotype School in East Orange, New Jersey. There she was training to become a court reporter until an accident which made her unable to finish. From there she went on to business school and began working for Freeman and Bass Law Firm. Shortly after that she obtained a position working for the US Postal Service where she worked for more than 30 years until she retired in 2013.
Clarice accepted Christ at an early age and worked tirelessly with the church. She attended Antioch First Church in Trenton, NJ where she was part the Pastor's Aide, the choir and a singing group called the Antioch Jubilares, which consisted of her aunt Elsa Ruth Thompson, her mother Yone Clarice Patterson, her sister Barbaranette Williams and eventually her brother Clennon Patterson. Later she attended and became a member of Metropolitan Baptist Church in Newark, NJ where she served on various ministries including the African American Cultural Ministry, Mission Ministry, Hospitality Ministry and Season Saints Ministry just to name a few.
Years before and after Clarice retired, she was a part of many committees which included the National Council of Negro Women, Union County Minority Task Force and being the Assistant Secretary for the 1971 South Side Class Reunion Committee. She was also part of the Union County Senior Center Art & Crafts.
In Clarice's younger years, she developed a love for sewing and started making her own clothes in high school. Through this talent she put on fashion shows and made outfits for those who wanted something unique. She enhanced her skills and grew her talent by taking classes for patten making, knitting, doll making and other forms of arts and crafts. She had a very inventive mind and would bring flare to anything she created.
Clarice's also loved the sci-fi world, learning about futurist things and traveling. She always traveled with her lifelong friend Deborah and one of her favorite places to visit was Florida. One reason is because she loved the Epcot Center. She loved her arts and crafts, creating, hosting, and celebrating. During her lifetime she was an active, happy person that was loved and well known by anyone that knew her. Her love, kindness, energy, and spirit captured the hearts of many. She was a helper and a giver and always had a smile on her face. She was the life of the party and trust you would know when she was around. She leaves behind a legacy of happy memories.
Clarice also loved family and through this love she passed her talents onto her two children, Erycka, and Eric whom she called André as her pet's name. She talked about them so much that everyone only knew them as Clarice's daughter and Clarice's son. She also had two grandchildren, Anneesha and Isaiah who were the love and joy of her life. In addition to her love for family, she also worked on the Family Reunion Committee organizing the family reunions with her cousins. Some of her happiest times were when she was able to spend time, and share laughs with her family.
Clarice was preceded in death by her father Henry Lee Patterson, her mother Yone Clarice Patterson, her siblings Tawanna H. Campbell, Aaron K. Patterson, Johnnie L. Patterson, Lamont H. Patterson, and Robert H. Patterson. She leaves to cherish her memory two children, Erycka Patterson, and Eric Patterson; 2 grandchildren, Anneesha Patterson and Isaiah Patterson; 1 sister, Barbaranette Williams; 1 brother, Clennon Patterson; 3 sisters-in-law, Linda Patterson, Denise Patterson and Tammy Patterson; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.