Sedley – Martha Ann Phipps "Ma" Patterson, 77, died May 24, 2009 at Southampton Memorial Hospital. She was born In Hoopers Creek, NC, a daughter of the late Thomas Richard and Katie Fowler Phipps. Mrs. Patterson was predeceased by three sisters, Lucille Regula, Lillian Phipps, and Lorraine Davenport; one brother, David Phipps; and one grandson, Jayton Patterson. She was the snack bar manager at Southampton Memorial Hospital for over 20 years where she was famous for her chicken salad sandwiches and caring ear. Ma was a pink lady at Southampton Memorial Hospital, helped start the Sedley Recreation Association, and was a member and former twice president of the Sedley's Woman's Club.
Survivors include three daughters, Annette Matt of Pulaski, Ruth Edsall of Sedley, Mary Vick (Steven) of Courtland; two sons, John Patterson (Sara) of Travers City, MI and Frank Patterson (Sharon) of Sedley; one sister, Eunice Staton of Hendersonville, NC; two brothers, Thomas Phipps of Farmington, MI, and Ernest Phipps of Fletcher, NC; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren. Ma always said, "I have 150 adopted children, 250 adopted grandchildren, and too many adopted great-grandchildren to count."
The funeral will be conducted Wednesday at 11 am at Wright Funeral Home, Franklin. Interment will follow in Rosemont Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 pm at the funeral home and suggest that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Sedley Recreation Association, c/o Bobby Dunlow, 30207 Vicksville Road, Sedley, Va. 23878 or Sedley Fire Department, 18080 Johnsons Mill Road, Sedley, Va. 23878. www.wrightfuneralhome.org