Patricia B. (Beaver) Brislin of Columbus, Mississippi

June 17, 1925 - August 22, 2021

Elizabeth Patricia Beaver Brislin

Elizabeth Patricia Beaver Brislin was  born June 17, 1925,  in Memphis, Tennessee, to Colonel Wilfred Beaver and Jenny Farmer  Beaver.

From what she would tell her family, Pat lived a fun childhood  growing up in Jamestown, New York, and in spending her summers at Lake  Chautauqua, NY,  as a  camp counselor teaching canoeing , sailing, swimming, biking, camping and the like. She attended Stephens College after high school.

Pat  Beaver met Milton (Mickey) Sprott Brislin, Jr., when introduced to him by her father.  Big Mickey (as we called him), a Selma Alabama native, had served under Pat’s father, the Englishman Colonel Wilfred Beaver, who was  the executive officer of  the 447th Bombardment Group in World War II.   It was a whirlwind romance. Pat and Mickey married on November 24, 1945, in Jamestown, New York, six weeks after being introduced. They were married for 60 years.

Pat and Mickey first lived in Boligee, Alabama, where Mickey ran the timber cutting operations for the E. L. Bruce Company.  He and Pat and children Judy, Mickey and Andy later moved to Columbus to continue running the E.L Bruce timber cutting  operation in Columbus and added a fourth child to the mix, Chuck. Mickey established  Brislin Air Conditioning and Heating Company in 1956. Pat enjoyed her sewing club (very little sewing going on), garden club and attending her children’s sports events, especially at Mississippi State University where sons Andy and Chuck played football. Upon Mickey’s retirement, Pat and Mickey moved to Destin, Florida, in 1987.

They chose Destin because of  tennis and the beach-two loves of Pat.They had been members of Magnolia Tennis Club in Columbus, and  she continued  playing with friends that she made in Destin and later in Spanish Fort. Their house in Destin was in a neighborhood on the beach side that  abutted the San Destin property. Pat would  walk daily for miles, and  Columbus friends visiting Destin  would often report a “Pat Sighting” or sometimes even have a chance to visit with her.

She continued tennis when they moved to Westminster Village in Spanish Fort, Alabama, due to Mickey’s health issues, and she played until she couldn’t (In her eighties she went for an  overhead shot and the subsequent fall ended that!). Pat then became a member of the “travel team” of the Westminster Village Retirement Community line dance group.  Pat  also enjoyed playing bridge and loved decorating the second floor display window with interesting items from travels and such for others to enjoy.

Pat was a lifelong Episcopalian. She was a member of St. Paul’s  in Columbus as well as St. Paul’s in Daphne, Alabama. Her rector in Daphne, the Reverend Thack Dyson, was especially thoughtful and caring to her. Just this week she was able to have communion and blessings  administered by Reverend  Jason Shelby, rector of Columbus’ St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, her former church for the many, many years when she lived here.

Due to health issues and being so far from some family,  Pat had moved to Columbus early this year to live with  oldest son Mickey and his wife Vana, and she resided in their next door cabin until recently. She died peacefully at Trinity Personal Care on Sunday, August 22, with son Mickey at her side.

Pat loved working puzzles, reading, corresponding with friends and family and having visitors. She especially loved her grands and  “her girls,” the 1965 LSD social club of Lee High of which her daughter Judy was a member. They called her Mama Pat and visited, called or wrote when they could. She enjoyed Lee Brigham’s Aylward’s visits, Judy Evans Herron’s visits and her gifts of  delicious homemade bread. She received much anticipated mail from friends and acquaintances far and wide for which she was delighted and grateful. Pat  also was delighted to have  her special “scotch and water” before supper that Mickey  would fix for her!

Besides her parents, Pat was predeceased by husband Milton Sprott Brislin, Jr., brother Bill Beaver, and son Charles (Chuck) Brislin.

She is survived by her children: Judy Brislin (Marty) Ollinger of Spanish Fort, Alabama; Mickey Brislin (Vana) of Columbus, Mississippi; and  Andrew (Judy) Brislin of  Bishop, Georgia.

She also leaves behind grands who adored Mama Pat:  Emily Farish Brown, William Richard Brown, Spencer Brislin Brown, Quinn Farish Brislin, Lee Kathryn Brislin McAnally, Drew Trammell, Elizabeth Brislin, Megan Brislin, Tyler Brislin, and Kelly Brislin

There were also great-grands who loved her and that she so loved:  Camille, Nora and Llewyn McAnally, Annabelle Brislin,  Mason, Mary Jackson and Libba Brown; Tucker and Caroline Brown, Farish DiFonzo, Colleen and Ja e Brislin, Gracie Wrinkle, Liam and Charlotte Trammell.

The families of Pat were so thankful for the care that she received  while at Westminster and then while here in Columbus, especially by her Columbus sitter Katherine Walden (who was so much more than that title), the Kindred Hospice nurses and caregivers that were so kind and efficient, and, lastly, the caregivers at Trinity Personal Care.

Patricia Beaver Brislin was a treasured daughter, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. She now has stars in her crown, sand under her feet and lob  in play…..Rest in peace, Mama Pat

A private family service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be given in Pat’s name to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 318 College Street, Columbus, MS 39701; St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 28788 N. Main Street, Daphne, AL 36526; or the charity of your choice.