Pearlie Mae Patrick

February 2, 1947 ~ September 20, 2024

77 Years Old

Pearlie Mae Patrick, 77 years old, from Bolivar, Tennessee, was born as Pearlie Mae Herron on February 2, 1947, to Clovis “Baby” Herron. Raised by her maternal grandmother Leona (Jones) Patrick.

Her funeral service was held on Saturday September 28, 2024 at 11:00 am at the Jerome Boyd Chapel at Dixie Funeral Home.

Pearlie was an only child but raised with cousins and affectionately known as Tootsie. She grew up with a cognitive disability that legend has it was the result of an injury in the womb caused by a young mother, distressed and not quite ready for motherhood. 

She came into the world with challenges, was different, and struggled in life and with her health—but somehow she turned that into a testimony full of joy, friendship, love and a constant reminder that God doesn’t make mistakes. 

Taller than all the boys her age, Pearlie grew up in Bolivar with family, and put fear in the eyes of any knuckleheads who dared to mess with her cousins. Pearlie graduated from Bolivar Industrial High School in 1965. When her grandmother Leona passed, she eventually went on to live with caretakers in Jackson and had a series of jobs, including working at Ryan’s Steakhouse, Madison Haywood Developmental Service Center, and Wendy’s. But her favorite job was motherhood. Pearlie’s pride and joy was her son Mike and daughter Leonia and her grandchildren, who she collectively referred to as her kids. Her heart expanded further to adopt her caregivers, who were devoted constants in her life and who felt less like staff and more like family. Ladies like Lorine, Chaquita, Gladice, Rose, Sharon and more, each made such an impact on her life: she loved them, and they loved her.

Pearlie had an infectious laugh, a sweet youthful spirit and so enjoyed holidays, birthdays, and any reason at all to celebrate life. Her love language was gifts, and she was a professional at making sure friends and family knew what gifts she hoped (or expected) to receive for the next holiday. “Madame” Pearlie loved being fancy, wearing jewelry and dressing up to go to dances or to church. She had a longtime beau named John; but Pearlie also had eyes and found that life was too short not to flirt from time to time. She had a sassy sense of humor, the kind that makes you clutch your pearls, and was a lot of sunshine mixed with a little bit of hurricane. 

After some tough falls and a battle with illness, God called Tootsie home on September 20, 2024. She is survived by her children, Michael Patrick and Leonia Carter (Anthony); her grandchildren, Ashley Carter, Sydney Baskin, Mickiva Patrick, Michael Patrick, and Taryeia Rogers; great grandchildren, a best friend Ernestine, and an extended family.

At the end of the day, Pearlie was a beautiful human being, loved by all and will forever be in our hearts. Don’t cry for Tootsie. Please don’t stand at her grave and weep. Recall that God doesn’t make mistakes. As Pearlie often said, she’s doing better than you think she is.