Patricia Ann Blackston

On Monday, October 14, 2019, Patricia Ann Blackston, Phenomenal woman, Loving Mother and a remarkable grandmother. Was called home to be with the Lord. She was educated through the Durham public school system.  She started working at Duke University on January 10, 1963 (45 years) and Retired in 2008 when she first found out she had stomach cancer. But even that didn’t stop her she continued to cook and take care of others. During the next few years she had lung cancer and survived neck cancer as well as cancer was in her heart which the doctors didn’t have a name for it.  But through it all she trusted God and continue to go with all the treatment they would give her. “See if you knew Pat Blackston she was a fighter and she was fighting to her last breath." For 14 years she did just that. So on October 14, 2019 God said "Come home my child the fight is over you can rest now" Even in pain she was still cooking for family and friends because that was her love. She also loved sewing and making ceramic and I am sure some of you still have some of her work. It’s nothing that she couldn’t do because she loved it you name it she would try it. Pat loved to help people and when you needed her she would be there to cook one of her famous dishes or give you cash if needed.

Pat was a giver and she never wanted you to be hungry or broke. The family will miss those Sunday dinners that she hosted she would have half of Duke Hospital at her table calling her "mama Pat" and asking "where is the peach cobbler and lemon pound cake". So many times she stayed up late preparing to cook and serve people for the next day. And she wouldn’t eat she would say how it taste is it good I just put this together.

Patricia loved her Korean soap operas, music, cooking and loved her family and going to the food bank to get food for others in need we all enjoyed her down home cooking (especially her homemade roll, cakes, chicken just to name a few).

She was affectionately called “Momma “by her kids and “Momma and Nannie “by her grands, she would often call her grandchildren by their Parent’s names.

Today we celebrate her wonderful, productive and blessed life. Don’t be sad or cry because she lived her life in her own way and she wouldn’t want too much fuss over her, just know we love and appreciate every day we had her on this earth and she is in a better place. We never lose the people we love even to death. They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make. Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories. We find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their love. Patricia (Pat) is proceeded in death by her parents Eddie (Buster) Blackston and Gerletha McClain Blackston, Brother Eddie (De Carlos) Blackston, sisters Leather Johnson, and Arnetta Blackston Walker.

She is survived by her daughter Stephanie Cooper (Terrence) of Elizabeth City, NC, Yvette Bolden (Erik) and Toya Blackston from Durham. one brother Chandler Blackston, Four Sisters, Linda, Sandra, Sheila Winstead (Charles) of Durham and Karen Blackston of Washington, DC. and one sister-in-law Sheila Rankin Blackston, one aunt Essie Mae Boatwright of New York. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Tanaka Eaddy(Jeff), Sherie Royster-Flowers (Fitz), Corey Royster, Kahari, Torien, Tamir, Khadijah   Abdusamad,   Alana   Ja’nesse   Bolden, 2 great grandsons, Devon Eaddy and Landon Flowers, and countless nieces, nephews, friends and family. And to her friends, Josephine Young, Doris Flower, Gwen Cash, Sandra Yates and Shirley Abdullah she would call and talk to every day. Her play sister Esther McKoy and to her Play children to many to name and all who were blessed to have known her. The many Doctors at Duke who she admired and helped her for so many years. UNC Hospice of Pittsboro and Chapel Hill NC.

Life goes on

By Patricia Ann Blackston

When I leave this world don’t cry for me I have lived my life to the fullest. I have had some bad times and a lot of good times. I tried to be the best at whatever I was during. I thought about life as being a live one day at a time don’t rush life because tomorrow is not promise to anyone. Anyone on this earth I have helped other in my life time has always gave me a place to know, I was there when they needed me. I know my family depends on me not them self they don’t think they can make it now but I know they can. All my life I wanted what was best for others never having a hard life like I did being alone to say I was complete times was hard back then being cold and hungry and unhappy all the time. God gave me an outlook that I would make it someday he gave me a world to live in with dreams.Sometimes you have to push yourself to make a few dreams come true.  A mother always tried to be a leader in the family. You can always count on her to completed any task that’s assign to her. She may sometimes not be right in your eyes but she tried to get the job done.  Mother sometime don’t know what to do she have to depend on God to guide her to be able to say and do the right thing. Life is not a dream it’s a fact of being as one. I have made my peace with God. I go down this path to wait for you. No one has to say a lot of words for me let my living speak for itself.  Thank you God for letting me stay a few years on this earth thank you for all the dreams you did let come true.

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