Patsie McLeod Obituary

McLEOD, Patsie Patsie Woodward Aiken Davis McLeod, age 94, died Sunday, November 30, 2008, at Brookridge Retirement Community in Winston-Salem. A resident of Brookridge for the past 15 years, Patsie had maintained close ties with Winnsboro in Fairfield County, SC, the place of her birth and the home of her family since before the American Revolution. She was a direct descendant of Thomas Woodward, "The Regulator;" of Captain Amos Davis, a Patriot; and of Arromanus Lyles, said to be the first child of European descent born in Fairfield District. Born March 14, 1914, Patsie was the only child of John Franklin and Annie Eloise Aiken Davis. She was happily married for 49 years to John Alton McLeod, Jr., who predeceased her in 1990. She is survived by her son, John Davis McLeod and his wife Virginia Martin Ingram McLeod of Winnsboro; her daughter, Annie McLean McLeod Jenkins and her husband Gordon Womble Jenkins of Winston-Salem; grandchildren, Annie Blythe McLeod Herring and her husband Dr. Neill McPhail Herring of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Amos Davis McLeod and wife Laura Leigh Suber McLeod of Florence, SC, Sarah Woodward Jenkins of New York City, and Gordon McLeod Jenkins of Richmond, VA; and great-grand children, Elizabeth McLeod Herring, McPhail Aiken Herring, William Blythe Herring, and Etta Fleming McLeod. She also is survived by two first cousins, Frances Davis Haslett and Lucy Davis Coleman, as well as by her cherished friend, Daisy Mae Gaither Broom, of Winnsboro. Patsie lived a full, varied, and productive life. She was a high school librarian for most of her career; but she also had studied theater at Converse College, where she received her BA degree in 1935, and she pursued further training at UNC-Chapel Hill and at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC. Her curiosity was wide-ranging, and as a trained librarian, she kept orderly folders of articles and notes related to her interests: birds, Gullah, embroidery, the Bible, her grandchildren's accomplishments, travel, flowers, meaningful quotations, Winston Churchill, and WWII history. She loved to read, and she passed along this love to her children. Of primary importance to Patsie was the life of the church, particularly the Presbyterian Church. She was a lifelong member of Sion Presbyterian Church of Winnsboro, where she had served as president of the Women of the Church and was honored with a Life Membership. After moving to Winston-Salem, she became an affiliate member of First Presbyterian Church, relishing the new friendships she found in Circle 7 and in her Sunday school class. She belonged to several book clubs, including the No Name Book Club and the Brookridge Book Club in Winston-Salem, and the ZuZammen Club of Winnsboro. She was an ardent supporter of the Christian Children's Fund, sponsoring several children over a period of 50 or more years; of Samaritan's Purse; and of numerous military veterans' charitable groups. A memorial service for Patsie will be held at Sion Presbyterian Church in Winnsboro on Saturday, December 6, 2008, at 2:00 PM. The family will receive friends after the service at 315 North Congress Street, Winnsboro. Patsie requested that any memorial gifts be designated for Sion Presbyterian Church (P. O. Box 556, Winnsboro, SC, 29180) or the American Bible Society (1865 Broadway, NY, NY 10023-7505). POPE FUNERAL HOME is serving the McLeod family.