Johnnie Mae "Sweets" Patterson

Johnnie Mae “Sweets” Patterson was born January 28, 1938 in Mobile, Alabama. She was one of many children born to John and Tura James, sharecroppers from Alabama. This union produced: Matrue, Pearl, Clinton, Violet, Larlie, Joann and Watson. The family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio when Johnnie Mae was very young. It is here she met and married Robert Patterson in 1961.

Johnnie Mae’s end of watch was February 19, 2026 at 9:31 a.m. at University Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. A devout Christian, she gave her life to Christ at a very young age and was a long-standing member at Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist church in Avondale. A food service worker, she retired from Cincinnati Public Schools in 2011.

“Sweets” was the epitome of strength, courage and integrity but nothing defined her more than her incomparable devotion and love to her family and friends. Sad? Call Sweets. Hungry? Call Sweets. She was the first and last line of defense. Never forgot a birthday, an anniversary, or a reason to celebrate the people she loved.

Johnnie Mae “Sweets” Patterson was preceded in death by: her parents, John and Tura; her former husband, Robert; son, Jonathan; grandson, Jason; and siblings, Clinton, Pearl, JoAnn, Watson, Violet, Matrue and Larlie.

She leaves to cherish her memory: her children, Valerie James, Robert and Tonya (née Upshaw) Patterson, Wanda Patterson, Mary Patterson and stepdaughter. Elizabeth Swain; grandchildren; Latrice, Christopher, Trevor, Joshua and Whitney (née Ruffin) Cooke, Rylin, Ivan, Stephanie, Adrienne and Andrianna, Jewanna, Julian, Jasmaine and Jacobi; along with a long line of great, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and host of cousins.

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