Patty Sue Black

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Patty Sue Black, known to most as Pat. Pat departed this life on June 28, 2025, at the age of eighty-eight years old. Her final moments were spent peacefully in her home surrounded by her beloved family. She was known for her strength, determination, and unwavering love for family.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM, Monday, July 7, 2025 in the chapel of McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home, 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907. Interment will be held at Ft. Mitchell National Cemetery.

Pat was born in Whitesburg, Kentucky, where friends and family unofficially appointed her the “Prettiest Girl in Letcher County” based to her beautiful blonde hair and big blue eyes. With nothing but her fearless nature and adventurous spirit, she left the “small town” of Whitesburg at seventeen years old and moved to “the big city” of Lexington, Kentucky, where she met and married James Allen Black, Sr. in 1959. Pat affectionately referred to James as “Blackie,” not because of his last name, but because of his coal black hair. Together, they spent twenty-six years of military journeys traveling to many parts of the world, to include living in Germany for six years.

Upon retirement in 1971, Pat and Blackie settled in Columbus, Georgia, and made a permanent home. At the heart of Pat’s life was her family. She was a cherished mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and loved a house full of family. She graduated college with a Business Degree and returned back to college mid-life for a second Accounting Degree. Pat spent much of her early retirement as a heart-felt “Nanny” to Brittany and Taylor, which brought pure joy to her heart. In fact, Pat not only picked her grandkids up from school everyday, she was always the first car in the carpool line, often getting to the school over an hour before pick-up time with her favorite snack in tow—Lance Toast Chee Peanut Butter Crackers, which she referred to as “Nabs.” She made it a priority to be at every event for her grandkids and great-grandkids, to include any and all school and sporting events. Despite her busy schedule, Pat managed to volunteer more than thirty hours a week as an Ambassador to the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau, Columbus Sports Council, and Rivercenter. Her talkative and friendly manner led her to be the Team Mother for the 1996 Softball Gold Olympians.

Pat was known for her love of cooking. She prepared feasts of “country cooking” for huge crowds, single-handedly without recipes, all while maintaining perfect timing. She gained pure pleasure watching the food literally melt in your mouth. She also knew a great meal was never complete without a warm cup of coffee—something she was rarely seen without.

Her deep love for adventure and new experiences led her to be the first to say “let’s go” to the mention of a trip, whether it be to the beach, Las Vegas, Canada, the Bahamas, Boston, the Grand Canyon, San Diego, snow skiing in Lake Tahoe for the first time at the age of seventy, or mining for diamonds in Arkansas at the age of seventy-five. As a lifetime learner, Pat spent two weeks in Washington, D.C. to tour the Smithsonian Museums to read and remember each and every exhibit. She had an amazing memory and could talk endlessly about all of her adventures.

Pat is survived by Allen Black (son), Teresa Black (daughter), Brittany Black (Jojo) (granddaughter), Taylor Roos (granddaughter), Bryson Peluso (great-grandson), Bryleigh Peluso (great-granddaughter), Jesse Bates (Stella) (brother), Joyce Daniels (sister), Greg Lucas (Susanna) (brother), and many nieces and nephews.

Pat was preceded in death by James Allen Black, Sr. (husband), John and Thelma Bates (parents), Jean Sexton, Jimmy Bates, Debbie Eldridge, David Bates, and Barbara Lucas (siblings).