Myra Juanita Shiflett Patterson passed away at home March 31, 2025. She was born in Rome, Georgia on January 22, 1932, to the late Paul Woodfin Shiflett and the late Ruby Shiflett (Miller). She was preceded in death by siblings Paul Shiflett, Sara Sigel, Mildred Langham, Kathleen Highfield, husband Rudolph Franklin Patterson, and daughter Shannon Kathleen Patterson Kuni.
She is survived by her sister Ruby Jean Traylor Dreher; sons, Rudolph (Randy) Franklin Patterson Jr. (Teresa); Bryan Paul Patterson (Amy); daughter Terri Patterson McGinnis (Jim); grandsons and great-grandsons Ben Tate (Fontaine), Fisher Tate, Woody Tate; Walt McGinnis (Chelsea), Wyatt McGinnis, Cameron McGinnis, Joe McGinnis, Rudy Patterson, Harry Patterson, Ryan Patterson, Will Patterson, Sam Patterson, Daniel Richard Kuni, and Levon Kuni. She is also survived by a loving extended family including many cousins, nieces and nephews
Myra Patterson was a devoted wife and mother, working alongside her husband, Rudolph in opening and running many restaurants including the first pizza restaurant in Northwest Georgia, the Pizza King, later known as Pizza Roma. Their final collaboration was the Feedmill, a local favorite for many Romans. She loved travelling, especially in trains as a child to her grandmother’s house, and vacations and longer trips with family as an adult.
In the past Mrs. Patterson was a member of Floyd Medical Center Auxiliary, Pink Ladies, volunteering in many areas of patient care and guest services. She also volunteered as a nurse assistant at the various schools her children attended over the years. She had admired her mother’s work as an RN at McCall Hospital and emulated her caring touch for all of her family and patients. This was carried into her later years as family caregiver, caring for her husband after a debilitating stroke, and caring for her mother in her home for her last years.
For her generation, Mrs. Patterson was remarkably adept with current technology. She had favorite YouTube channels where she loved to watch DIY videos for creative projects; to put together her newest computerized sewing machine and her project tools. She also used e-mail and shopped online often, sending surprises to her loved ones. She was an inherently curious person, wanting to hear what others thought and believed, valuing the opinion of others whether in agreement with her or not. She was a very good listener and a giving conversationalist. She preferred honest and direct interactions and to her, love was a verb.
Myra Patterson enjoyed quilt making and other crafts. Her needlework was impeccable whether she was decorating tea towels, pillows or frameable pieces. She made beautiful treasured pieces for family and friends. She was “home” for the family to gather and she cooked tremendous holiday meals. There was always room for more family and friends on the special occasions that she prepared her special dishes and recipes. She is much loved as a central figure in the family and she will be terribly missed.
A service will be held at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel, at 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 10th. Friends and family will be received at a place to be determined at 12:30, after the service. Mrs. Patterson will be interred at the Pleasant Hope Church Cemetery at a later date.
Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel, is honored to serve the family of Myra Juanita Shiflett Patterson.
