Margerie (Cooks) Patterson

Evangelist Margerie Cooks Patterson

“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work.”  John 9:4.

Margerie was born June 6, 1948 in Benton Harbor, Michigan to the late Henry Cooks Sr. and Ida Mae DeKine Cooks. She attended Eau Claire Public Schools and graduated in 1966. In February 1967, she met the love of her life, Deacon Harold Patterson, and was united in holy matrimony on April 6, 1968 and remained married for 56 years. To this union eight children were born.

She worked in the Benton Harbor Area Schools as a paraprofessional and retired after 22 years of service.

As a teenager, Margerie attended Macedonia Community Church in Eau Claire, Michigan under the leadership of the late Reverend Culpepper.  In 1970, she attended Mt Zion Church of God In Christ in Buchannan, Michigan under the leadership of the late Papa Burton.  In 1972, she accepted Christ as her personal savior and continued serving under the leadership of Superintendent James Herron until the Lord called him home. In the 1980s, she accepted her call as an evangelist missionary.   Her service continued at Mt Zion Cathedral of Praise Church of God In Christ under the leadership of Superintendent Hayes Taylor. She served on the local, district, jurisdiction, and national levels until her departure from this earth with the assurance of 2 Corinthians 5:1 “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 

Evangelist  Patterson leaves to cherish her memory and legacy of holiness to her loving husband Harold Patterson, four sons; Harold (Tarji) Patterson of Spartanburg, SC, Jeffrey Patterson of Berrien Springs, MI, Gerald (Samantha) Patterson South Bend, IN, and Chad (Wendy) Patterson of Niles, MI, three daughters, Tami Patterson-Hatten of Michigan City, IN, Tiffany (Donald) Patterson-Nelson of Indianapolis, IN, and Tara (Adonis) Patterson-Burris of Rock Hill, SC, fourteen grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, three sisters; Katherine Glenn, Josephine Robinson, and Christine Cooks, one brother; Noble Ramsey, five sisters in law, Linda Butler, Heleema Abdulah, Lillian Patterson, Betsy Nancy Trovato, Felissa Vernon, seven brothers in law, Anthony Patterson, Duane Patterson, Ira Charles Patterson, Kevin Patterson, Kirk Patterson, David Patterson, Rahim Addullah, and four godchildren.

She will also be remembered by nieces, nephews, cousins, and a very special friend, Mother Margie Livers.  

She was preceded in death by one son, Donavin Patterson, parents; Henry & Ida Mae Cooks, father and mother in law Jonas III & Beatrice Patterson, three brothers, Earl Smith, Henry Cooks Jr, and Robert Cooks, two sisters Pauline Lipkins, Mae Frances Cooks; seven brothers in law, Eugene Robinson, Larry Glenn, Nathenial Lipkins, Jonas Patterson IV, Larry Patterson, Michael Patterson and Russel Butler, three sisters in law, Clarissa Patterson, Roberta Patterson, Florence Cooks.

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