PATRICIA JACKSON MELLERSON was the seventh of eight children born to

the late Eunice and Anderson Jackson of Rockhill South Carolina. In addition to her

parents, she was preceded in death by all of her brothers and sisters, Arthur Lynn,

Isabelle, Jeanette, Eugene, Mannie Leo, Bernice and Timothy.

Patricia received her education in the Baltimore City Public School System.

Growing up in the South Baltimore area, she loved music, dancing, and had a

passion for roller skating. During this time she met the love of her life, the late

Thomas Mellerson. He introduced her to many things, one being driving. She was

good at many things, she got behind that steering wheel and took off like a rocket.

She became well known for her exceptional driving skills for the majority of her

life.

Patricia grew up in the church as a little girl. After meeting Thomas, they joined

together in holy matrimony on January 25, 1964. They both became active members

of Mount Moriah Baptist Church in 1967. Out of this union they had three

daughters and raised them as active members as well. Patricia loved the Lord and

was a strong believer in Him. She placed Bibles throughout her home opened to her

favorite scripture, Psalm 91. She always said, "that's my protection, that's my alarm

system", and whenever she felt weary "that is my strength". Whenever she faced an

uneasy situation she would say "Jesus, keep me near the cross". Whenever a loved

one looked to her for help or strength she'd say

"Don't worry, God will fix it. He knows all about it!"

Patricia was employed in her early adult life at Hold Tight Company and Olson

Wire Goods. She was known to be very hard working, dependable, and punctual.

She received many incentives and promotions for her great work ethics. At 11 years

old she had an interest in doing hair. She was very good at that as well. She would

go house to house in her neighborhood, working hard and making people happy.

Patricia took her talents to school and earned her license in cosmetology. She later

became the owner of a salon for over 30 years, with an expertise in fingerwaves and

jeri curls. She also received her GNA certification to work for Stella Maris Nursing

Home after she began caring for her mother. She continued being a caregiver at

Stella Maris where she later retired.

In the year of 1984, Patricia and her husband relocated to Baltimore County to

make a wonderful life. In 1990 she became a grandmother and shortly thereafter,

she was given the special nickname by her first grandchild that everyone so

passionately calls her, "Mema". She loved her nickname, she wore it well, and was

so proud to be called "Mema". Mema loved being a wife, mother, grandmother, and

great grandmother. She spent time with her husband traveling state to state. She

enjoyed taking her children to the skating rink, amusement parks, and dragging

them to every thrift store in Baltimore. With her grandchildren she would watch

movies, teach them how to play card games, and sew them more hat & scarf sets

than they could wear. When her great grandchildren would come to visit, she would

light up like a Christmas tree. They would draw and color together, eat ice cream,

and sing nursery rhymes (mainly "patty cake baker's man"). Mema had a strong

liking for crabs and Mr. Good Bars. She loved gathering at home to cook her own

crabs and share with her family, but never to share her Mr. Good Bars. Her daily

routine was to make a cup of hot tea, watch old westerns, and wait to chat with

Sheila and Annette.

To know Mema was to love her. She was very stern and what she said is what she

meant. She had two sayings she frequently used that made us laugh, 1: "all is quiet

on the western front" and 2: "say what you mean, and mean what you say". She

always made us use our thinking caps. Mema will be missed dearly by family and

friends, but her genuine spirit will never be forgotten. She leaves to cherish her

memories also through marriage: four children, Terroney, Andre, Tradonna, and

Lisa (Dietrick): eight grandchildren AndreJr ,'Traneisha (Dione), Terron, Tyla, Shiloh, Mel, Kelley, and Trinity; five great grandchildren, Aria, Zion, Zayli, Zaxton and Amara; Two adopted sisters, Sheila and Helen; Three God Children, Lawrence (LB), Geisha and Damitra (Shay); a devoted friend Annette, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many many friends.