Jessie William "Bill" Patrick

Jessie William (Bill) Patrick left us to be with the LORD he loved, worshipped, and unconditionally trusted, on November 9, 2020. He was 83 years old and a longtime resident of Ocean Springs. In his passing, he leaves a hole in each of us that will only be filled when we are reunited in the resurrection of life offered to those who put their trust in Christ. Bill had a most improbable life, one we have difficulty fully comprehending. Born of Mississippi parents Ellis Jay Patrick, Sr and Ethel Prouse Patrick, his birthplace was in Jemez Springs, NM, on October 4, 1937 where his father, mother, and younger brother Jay briefly started a new life in a logging town. Returning shortly thereafter to Mississippi, he would make Jackson County his home for the majority of his life. A sister and three more brothers would eventually follow. Bill’s formal schooling stopped at eighth grade, as his parents’ marriage ended, and he took whatever jobs necessary to help the family. Family meant so much to him, and he learned much earlier than most of us about hard, sacrificial work. He described selling paper roses at five and newspapers at seven in Pascagoula. Sugar cane might be his school lunch or whatever he was allowed to pilfer. He worked in a restaurant. He drove a cookie truck and a cab, underaged. Compassionate aunts and uncle and spouses provided homes at various times and took Billy and his siblings in. Bill joined the navy at aged 17 in 1954, eventually becoming radioman 1st class. He served on a number of WWII-era diesel subs, including SS392 Sterlet, SS565 Wahoo, and SS403 Atule. A highlight of his career was being part of a submarine fleet group that caused a Zulu-Class Russian sub to surface. As a Pascagoula boy, he was invited on a goodwill tour for the first sub to enter the Pascagoula River. In 1959, Bill volunteered for the Polaris Fleet Ballistic Missile program, attending numerous electronics schools and providing feedback for the communications center of the new SSBN602 Abraham Lincoln. He became part of the Blue Crew Commissioning Detail of the Lincoln, one of the “41 for Freedom” nuclear deterrence program. He was commended for five exemplary cruises under the Artic circle. Bill met the love of his life, Glenda Rae Gee, in 1954. Fresh out of boot camp in San Diego, he was 17 and Glenda was 14, living up the coast in Laguna Beach, CA and working as an usherette/candy girl in a theater where they met. Following another theme in Bill’s life, he felt unworthy of having his own family, and released Glenda from the relationship. Most improbably, ten years and two sons later, Glenda and Bill were married, and Bill became father to Chuck and John. Still in the Navy in Annapolis, daughter Jenine was born in 1965. After an honorable discharge following Bill’s 11 years of Navy service, the family moved briefly to San Diego for 18 months where he worked for Pacific Telephone. Unhappy in what he saw as a materialistic culture alien to his nature, it was a poor fit for him. Glenda arranged for the family to move back to Mississippi. Ocean Springs became Bill’s home for the remaining 53 years of his life. Two brothers would figure very prominently into his work life. He initially worked for Wayne painting new construction for Bailey Homes. Later he worked for Reggie, including long stretches in San Antonio. Mostly he worked his profession by himself, with a reputation in the coastal counties as a master painter, paperhanger, and drywall finisher. He worked long days to support his family, and often came home exhausted. Fourteen years following the birth of their daughter, Bill and Glenda would expand their family with the births of sons Sammy and Seth as their two older sons were leaving the nest. Along with a doting sister, another rich phase of their marriage began. During this time he gained the ironic moniker “Wild Bill”, one of the most accepting father figures his neighborhood would see. His joy was to coach the boys in basketball and baseball a couple seasons. Billy considered himself to be an adult conversion to Christ thru the witness of his brother Reggie who first told him Jesus is God. His surrendering to Christ would mark a 50+ year faith walk. God’s sanctifying grace would be evident for many to see, as Billy’s heart grew more and more tender for God. Always a lover of music, his children remember going to sleep to stacks of LP’s on the RCA console playing into the night. They would make many special churches their home, but the ministry of First Presbyterian Church under the Rev Scott Castleman over the past 9 years would become their forever home. When Bill was appointed a deacon, in typical humility he felt unworthy and unable to keep up with the younger deacons. They would tell him his worshipful heart for God was the meaning he brought to his office. Bill passed away at home, following a seven month struggle with congestive heart failure. He and Glenda have only the highest praise and thanks for the care Bill received via the VA hospital system and Singer River Hospital as well as Dr. Michael Cunningham and his staff. Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Ellis Jay Patrick, Sr and Ethel Prouse Kitchens; and siblings Ellis Jay Patrick, Jr, Wayne A. Patrick, Michael Kitchens, and Gayle Patrick Rogers. He is survived by his wife Glenda; brother Reggie (Patricia) Patrick; sons Chuck (Carmen) Maier, John (Joy) Maier, Sammy (Lynn) Patrick, and Seth (Starla) Patrick; and daughter Jenine (David) Jones. His grandchildren are Elizabeth (Joseph) Lizana, Patrick (Amanda) Jones, Gabe (Rachael) Jones, Hope (Conner) Estes, Zach Jones, Savannah (Matt) Carson, Abigail Maier, Ben Maier, and Manfredd Maier. His great-grandchildren are Logan and Silas Lizana, Eli Jones, and Amelie Jones. A celebration of Bill’s life will be held on Friday, November 13, 2020 at First Presbyterian Church of Ocean Springs, 921 Ocean Avenue. Visitation for family will be from 11:30-12, and for family and friends from 12-1 pm, with service at 1 pm. He will be interred at the Biloxi National Cemetery on Monday, November 16, 2020 at 11 AM in a limited attendance honor guard ceremony. The Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.