Patience Terrell

“An Angel has Gained her Wings.”

Patience Terrell was born on February 8, 1922 in Wetumpka, Alabama to Henry and Irene Norman. Patience was educated in the Elmore County School system in Alabama.  She was a devout Christian and member of Shiloh Baptist Church of Lockport, Illinois when she resided in Joliet, Illinois.  She later attended Jacksonville Baptist in Aiken, South Carolina, until God called her home.  Patience, affectionately known as, (Granny, M’Dear, Pash) was a welcoming, kind, compassionate angel on earth to all that she encountered, cared for and loved.  A devoted wife of 50 plus years to her husband and life partner; she committed herself to nurturing and successfully raising ten fiercely devoted children, along with a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, and the children of family/friends that she watched and babysat in Joliet and Aiken.

Patience was a down home, soul food, finger licking, lip smacking cook that never used or needed a recipe book for all her homemade dishes or sweet treats.  In fact, she was still making her famous sweet potato pies at 97 years young. She loved to hear and share stories about all the family and friends that checked on her from near and far. Her heartwarming smile and feisty spirit will be sorely missed by all.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Curtis Terrell; daughter, Doris Welch; her four sisters, Mattie Vaughn, Lillie Butler, Mary Pearson, and Creola Brown.

She transitioned peacefully on Thursday, December 26, 2019.  She leaves a strong family legacy to carry on, her children; Ruth Smith (Queens, NY), Maxine Terrell (Aiken, SC), Magnolia Terrell (Country Club Hills, IL), Daisy (Clyde) Johnson (Rhoadsville, VA), Curtis (Nancy) Terrell (Bolingbrook, IL), Conley (Pamela) Terrell (Romeoville, IL), Delane (Shasta) Terrell (Aiken, SC), Regina Beattie (Joliet, IL) and Mildred (William) Holmes (Davenport, FL); brother-in-law, Harold Kuykendall (Kissimmee, FL); son-in-law, William Welch (St. Louis, MO), a host of grandchildren, great-grand and great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other relatives.

The family extends a heartfelt thanks to Patience’s Home Health caregivers Stella Butler and Inez Elam, “We are forever grateful for the devotion and exceptional care you gave to mom!”

In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Foster Elam Scholarship Fund will be appreciated. Please make checks payable to Foster Elam, 810 Winnebago Ct., Romeoville, IL 60446.  You may also contribute via Zelle to mildredholmes913@gmail.com.

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