Dorothy Lee Patton

Dorothy Lee “Dot” Chesser (Mitchell) Patton, died May 8, 2016 at The Windsor Place in Columbus.

The funeral service will be Wednesday, May 11 at 2 PM at New Hope Baptist Church in Starkville, with Rev. Dan Robertson officiating and Rev. Steve Brown, assisting.  Visitation will be in the church sanctuary prior to the service 12:30 – 2:00 with burial to follow in the church cemetery.

Dot was born to Odie Mark and Clemmie Alice Seitz Chesser on October 16, 1935 in Oktibbeha County, MS.

She graduated from Starkville High School in 1954 where she lettered in basketball and track.  Soon after graduation Dot went to work as a telephone operator with South Central Bell, working in the Starkville, Jacksonville, FL and Columbus, MS locations.  From 1970 to 1983 she owned and operated Mitchell’s Grocery in New Hope.  From there she went to Ruth’s Dept. Store for 2 years, then managed Nutri-System Weight Loss Center in Columbus until her retirement in 1996.

Calm, gracious, loyal, family-oriented, loving, accepting, daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and aunt, Dot lived every day to the fullest with a beaming smile and a positive outlook.  She loved unconditionally, encouraging her children and doting on her grand and great grandchildren.  Hugs were always in abundance as were her delicious homemade meals.  Many a chocolate pie, red velvet cake and other delectable were fought over in her kitchen.  She was a talented seamstress learning the skill from her mother.  She was also civic-minded, holding membership in the Columbus Business and Professional Women’s club and was a 35 year member of the Greater Columbus Lions Club.

Dot was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 19 years Jim Patton, sisters Doris Carmichael, Mary Alice Berry, Johnnie Wells, and her twin sister Martha “Mot” Reed.

She is survived by her sisters Nell (Doyle) Reed of Mathiston, Betty (Ross) Robertson of Oxford and her brother-in-law Edwin Reed of Maben; children Denise (Dink) O’Brian of Columbus, Rusty (Cindy)Mitchell of Columbus, Robbie (Pat) Mitchell of Birmingham, AL and Michelle Mitchell of Columbus, Edward (Jeanine) Patton of West Monroe, LA, Tamela (Dewayne) Whittle and Tiffany (John) Browning of Columbus; grandchildren Chris (Nikki) O’Brian, Torie O’Brian, Charlie (Casey) Patton, Trey (Dallas) Frayser, Georgie Browning, Sara Ellen Browning and Gilli Patton; great-grandchildren Luke O’Brian, Lane O’Brian and Tenley O’Brian and several beloved nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be her nephews; Kenny Carmichael, Mark Kinard, John Berry, Ricky Reed, Kevin Reed and Mike Robertson.

Honorary Pallbearers are: Coy Mitchell, Joni Savage, Beth Crane, Jane Eads Tilley, Bonnie Benson, Betty Phillips, Shirley Griffin, Billie Dee Henson, Frances Droste, Betty Swanzy, Dr. Michael Duckworth, members of the Greater Columbus Lions Club, and the nurses and staff at The Windsor Place and Philwood Suites.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society 1380 Livingston Lane, Jackson, MS 39213; the Alzheimer’s Foundation, 196 Charmant Place Ste 4, Ridgeland, MS 39157 or to MidSouth Lions, 930 Madison Suite 101, Memphis, TN  38103.