Patricia "Pat" Winter Perry

PAT PERRY - Patricia Winter "Pat" Perry, age 92, of Columbus, MS, passed away February 7, 2023, at Trinity Place Retirement Community.  A graveside memorial service will be held at a later date to be announced by Memorial Gunter Peel Funeral Home & Crematory.

Mrs. Perry was born March 24, 1930, in Wilmington, DE.  She was the daughter of the late George and Elizabeth Hepbron Winter.  She was the widow of Thomas Harold Perry and Col. Paul Mark Ryan USMC Retired.

Mrs. Perry received a BS in Elementary Education from MSCW and a Masters in Educational Specialist Degree from MSU.  She was a teacher for 12 years, a principal for 11 years, and was the first female District Administrator for the Columbus Municipal School District, a position she served in for 14 years.  After retiring she served as a consultant for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the State Department of Education, Physiological Corporation and McGraw Hill Publishers.

Mrs. Perry was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Delta Kappa and Phi Delta Epsilon.  She served on the Boards of the Mississippi Education Association, Mississippi Association of Educators, Mississippi Association of School Administrators, Columbus Education Association and the Mississippi Association of Elementary Principals.  She was a past President of the Mississippi Association of Assistant Superintendents, the District II Elementary Principals Association and the Columbus Education Association.

In addition to her professional affiliations she was also active in community activities.  She was a long time member of the YMCA Camp Committee and served on the Board and was past President of the Baptist Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.  She was a patron of the Columbus Library, the Columbus Arts Council and the Columbus Historic Society.  Pat was an avid Bulldog fan and a member of the MSU Alumni Association.  As a "W" grad she supported her Alma Mater as a member of the MUW Alumni Chapter.  As a member of the First United Methodist Church she served on the Administrative Board, various committees over the years, was a former Sunday School Teacher and MUW Circle Leader.

In addition to her parents and husband's she was preceded in death by her brother, George Winter Jr. of Euless, TX, daughter Pamela Perry Ward and her husband Jimmy Rand Ward of Augusta, GA.

Survivors include son Thomas H. Perry Jr. and wife Karen of Slippery Rock, PA, four granddaughters, seven great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the Pat Perry Education Leadership Scholarship, MUW Foundation, 1100 College Street MUW-1618, Columbus, MS, 39701, or to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 32, Columbus, MS, 39703.

The family would like to express their thanks and appreciation to Dr. William Rosenblatt, Liddie Anderson and staff of Trinity Place Retirement Community, companion sitters Annie, Annie, and Rosie, and Anita and the staff of Enhabit Hospice.