IMMENSE THRONG AT PATTERSON FUNERAL The Robesonian (Lumberton, North Carolina) January 23, 1922 Contact Myrtle Bridges
The funeral of Hon. G.B. Patterson, whose sudden death occurred at his home in Maxton Saturday afternoon, was attended yesterday afternoon by perhaps the largest crowd that ever gathered at a funeral in Robeson county. During the service at the Presbyterian church in Maxton yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock every inch of standing room in the church was occupied and the overflow all but filled the large church lawn. It iw estaimated that 1,500 people attended the services in Maxton and that an even larger number gathered for the interment at Laurinburg, where the wife of the deceased was buried. Rev. D. H.G. Hill, Robeson's "Grand Old Man", pastor of the Maxton Presbyterian church, conducted the funeral, assisted by Rev. E.L. Siler, assistant pastor of the church; Rev. John Allan McLean, formerly of Maxton, now of Morganton' and Rev. Carl Craig, pastor of the Presbyterian church of Laurinburg. In a voice that carried to the part of the congregation standing in the vestibule, Dr. Hill, 91 years old, preached a beautiful sermon about the heavenly home. The music was exquisite, the choir singing "It is Well With My Soul", "Jesus Lover of My Soul" and "Homeland." The floral offerings were surpassingly beautiful and lavish. The pall bearers were: active-Messrs. G.B. Sellars, J.O McLeland, H.C. McNair, W.O. Bennett, J.E. Carpenter, R.L. McLeod, W.H. Weatherspoon, McKay McKinnon; honorary-elders of the church; Messrs. S.B. McLean, W.J. Currie, J.B. McCallum, L.L. McGirt, J.P. Wiggins, Lacy McLean, J.S. McRae, R.D. Croom. The remains were interred with Masonic honors. Members of Maxton Massonic Lodge No. 417, of which deceased was a past master, attended in a body, also Laurinburg commandery and the bar of Robeson and Scotland counties. No doubt every township in Robeson county was represented at the funeral. One hundred and twenty-five or more people attended from Lumberton alone. There were many at the funeral from many distant points. News of Mr. Patterson's death reached Lumberton Saturday afternoon. He died of heart failure that afternoon at 1:40 at his hom on Patterson street. The following is taken from a dispatch of the 21st from Maxton: "Mr. Patterson was indisposed this morning and unable to be at his office, but was not considered very ill, having just had a conference with a client, with whom he walked to the door. When stricken he was reclining on a couch talking with his b rother, D.A. Patterson, and with Misses Annie Elizabeth and Maggie Patterson, with whom he ahd his daughter Mary, lived. "He was born in Richmond county, in that part now known as Scotland, in 1863 and was in his 59th year. He was one of the brawny Scotch of this section, being the son of Gilbert Brown and Margaret Patterson, some of the early settlers. In 1908 he married Mrs. Mattie MacNair Evans, daughter of Jno. F. MacNider, of Laurinburg. She died about ten years ago. "Besides the members of his household his cousins, Misses Annie E. and Maggie Patterson, and his 13 year old daughter, Mary MacNair Patterson, he is survived by one brother, D.A. Patterson, and one sister, Mrs. M.E. Baldwin, both of this place, and his step-son, Hervey Evans, of Laurinburg. "Mr. Pattersonns' influence in this community was exceptional and widespread. By his genial, kindly disposition, he won many friends and held them. "Mr. Patterson was a graduate of the university of North Carolina and taught several years. Intensely interested in the education of the youth of his community, he has always been a leader in school affairs. He was charter member of the school board and served continuously for 22 years, being instrumental in the organization of the school district. "In athe church he has been very active. He has been an elder in the Maxton Presbyterian church for 15 years and was a member of the executive committee of the Sunday school, in which he has always been a leading factor, serving formerly as superintendent. "Mr. Patterson represented Robeson county in the legislature of 1899 and 1901, and was representative from the sixth district in the Congress of the United States for two terms, from 1903 to 1907. "As an ardent advocate and wise counselor, he was the equal of any lawyer in the state"
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