Mr. Patrick Turner Hairston, Sr., was born on August 20, 1924 in Davie County, North Carolina to the late Peyton T. Hairston and Lorena Mason Hairston. Patrick departed this life on Friday, October 15, 2010 at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home.
He was educated in the public school system of Winston-Salem, NC. Patrick enlisted in the United States Navy on October 22, 1942 and served in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of war. He was honorably discharged from active service on September 29, 1945. After his discharge from the Navy, he furthered his education at Russell's Commercial School in 1951, and the Del Watt Radio Repair School.
Patrick's work career included RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, Economy Supply Company, and McLean Trucking Company, from where he retired. His entrepreneurial spirit allowed him to establish a cleaning service, which provided janitorial services to several commercial buildings in Winston-Salem.
In the Civic arena, Patrick was held in high esteem as a civil rights leader, earned for his work in the desegregation of public accommodation, voter registration, and championed many civil rights initiatives. Being on the front lines in this effort caused him to very often be the lead person in the struggle for racial equality. The effectiveness of President of the Winston-Salem Chapter of the NAACP was marked by a period of great success. He received numerous awards and recognitions form the State, the Local, and the National NAACP for his untiring and vital role in the NAACP's annual membership and voter registration drives and for the continuous fight in the struggle for the equal opportunity for all citizens.
In the political arena, Patrick served on the City Council from 1985 to 1989 in the North Ward. He was regarded by the North Ward community as being a leader who was not afraid to talk publicly about the ills of racial and economic injustices. He was very active in the democratic politics, and remained actively involved in local, state, and national politics.
Patrick was preceded in death by his brothers and sisters; a daughter, Debra Hairston; and other family members.
He is survived by his wife and caregiver, Florina Byrd-Hairston; his children, Barbara J. Sims (Willie), Patrick T. Hairston, Jr. (Joyce), Donald, Michael, Robert, Sherman, Algernon, Teresa, Patricia Hairston, and Patrick Johnson; several grandchildren; great grandchildren; special nieces, Asalee Williams and Phyllis Morning; other nieces and nephews; great nieces and great nephews; his loving and devoted mother-in-law, Mrs. Felcia Mack; a devoted brother-in-law, Larry Mack who basically put their lives on hold to live with Patrick and Flo; brother-in-law, Ulysses Byrd; sisters-in-law, Mrs. Vicki Gordon (Rev. William), Ms. Creola Campbell, Mrs. Mary Shackelford (Rev. Joel); a devoted nephew, Mr. Peyton T. Hairston, Sr.; and other family members and friends.
Memorial services will be held at 1:00pm Thursday, October 21, 2010 at United Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Prince R. Rivers officiating. The family visitation will be held from 12noon until 1:00pm on Thursday at the Church.
Memorials may be made to United Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, 450 Metropolitan Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27101; Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC; and, Serving Our Savior, 200 Buckingham Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.
The family would like to sincerely thank our Pastor and Church Family; Patrick's Hospice nurse practitioner, Freda C.; his nurses, Trisha, Karen, and Freda R.; his CNA's, Tandra, Nancy, Jeanette, and Lois (retired); his social worker, Suzette; his Chaplain Meghan; and his minister of music, Katie. In addition, the family would like to sincerely thank Peyton T. Hairston, Sr. for his love and kindness and his caring dedication to us; loyal and lifelong friends, Ken and Gwen Rocker and family, Judith Dickinson, David Wilson "Buck", Leon Sutton "Popcorn", Attorney Larry Little, Jim Mack, Patricia Degraffinreadit, Mrs. Artanzia Jones, and Mrs. Evelyn Foster; a special friend, Ms. Avis Sewell at One Step Up; wonderful neighbors, W.C. and Mary "Mae" Dobson and family, Beverly Coleman and family, and Eloise Duncan and family. Finally, we would like to thank Mr. Logan and Dr. Vivian Burke and family; Reverend and Mrs. Isaac Carter and family; Donna, Carolyn, Bob, Drake, and the Wake Forest Deacon Shop; Wanda at Parkview Bingo; Johnnie Mae Hardie and family; Donald and Vickie Pettway and family; Jack Shearin and family; Stevie and "Libby" Dulin and family; Odell and Brenetta Mason and family; James Shaw and family; and so many other special individuals, business, and organizations.