Martha 'Mattie' Masten Patterson, loved the Lord

On June 10, 1922, the first daughter, Martha Mae Masten, was born to Herman Masten and Caroline (Stewart) Masten in Chester, Pa. However, the name Mattie was used throughout her life. Peacefully on Saturday, May 9, 2015, at 9:15 p.m., Mattie departed this life at Gilpin Hall (nursing home) in Wilmington.

Mattie attended Chester public schools through junior high. Her senior high education was at Nether Providence High School in Wallingford, Pa., graduating in the Class of 1940.

Early in Mattie’s life, the love of the Lord was evident. She started attending St. Daniel’s United Methodist Church regularly and became a devoted member. Under the pastorate of the Rev. Leon S. Moore and the leadership of the Rev. Charles Young, Mattie was assigned to Class No. 11. Being an active member of the class, she served as recording secretary during the year of 1982. Since attending church was always a part of Mattie’s life, she was busy with other church activities.

On Good Friday, April 5, 1985, Mattie was baptized at Tindley Temple United Methodist Church in Philadelphia, Pa. Other churches that she served, included Thornbury AME Church, Cheyney, Pa., and Friendship United Methodist Church, Millsboro. Mattie’s favorite scriptures were Psalm 23 and Psalm 91. “Great is Thy Faithfulness” and “God Will Take Care of You” were hymns that filled her heart.

During Mattie’s life were many avenues of employment. She was a waitress, who became head waitress and assistant manager. She was the first lady leader at SunShip. She attended Cash Training School for Penn Fruit Company. Upon completion of her training, she was hired at Penn Fruit Company in Chester as a cashier and promoted to head cash clerk. She was most proud and happy with this last position. She was the first black hired for this position.

Mattie was a member of the Deborah Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, Leah Chapter OES. Her other interests and hobbies were cooking, at which she excelled, gardening, family cookouts and yard sales.

Mattie met the late William L. Patterson Jr. and after a two year courtship, they were married Aug. 25, 1956. From this union, a son, William L. Patterson III was born. Billy, as she called him, was devoted to his mother. She’s right there (free) in his heart.

Mattie’s parents, Herman and Caroline Masten; brothers James Masten and Herman Masten; and stepdaughter Arbutus Johnson preceded her in death. Her beloved sister, Carrie Savage, passed Thursday, May 22, 2015.

She leaves to cherish her memory: loving stepdaughters, Jeretta Duckery and Rose Patterson; stepson Wendall Patterson; sister Gracile Brown; 20 grandchildren; a host of great-grandchildren; nieces, Carmen Hill and Hermania Thomas; nephews, Dennis Savage, Gregory Brown (Karen) and godson, Vincent Duckery Jr. She will also be missed by a host of other relatives and a very caring friend, Barbara Clark of Lewes.

Services were held Saturday, June 13, at Friendship United Methodist Church, Millsboro with the Rev. George W. Fisher Sr. officiating.