Mrs. Betsy Ann ‘Patti’ Eichelberger of Mt. Sinai Community, Louisville, MS passed away in her home with her children and caregiver on Monday, February 5, 2018 at the majestic age of 99. She was born, raised, and gave birth to all children on Mr. Sinai Rd. The visitation was from 12 noon – 6 p.m. on Friday, February 9, 2018 at Mt. Sinai MB Church. Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 10, 2018 at Mt. Sinai MB Church in Louisville, MS. with burial in the Mt. Sinai Cemetery. Rev. Danya Turner officiated, Rev. Lorene Guyse eulogized.
Mrs. Eichelberger was the 211th person to register to vote during the voter re-registration of 1970 that enforced the Voting Rights Act of 1965. She was a member of Mt. Sinai MB Church since childhood serving as secretary, teacher and agent of the Mt. Sinai Burial Club as well as a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She worked for many years as a domestic servant after the death of her husband. She also worked for Spartus Clock Factory from 1969 until retiring in 1979. She was actively involved in Winston County Voters and Education League since 1966, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the former Mt. Sinai Burial Club, Friends of Dean Park, Inc., and Winston County Extension Office including the 4H-Club, and the Winston County TRIAD. At the age of 95 representing American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), she spoke to the legislators advocating for the rights of seniors for stay home care.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Nelson and Mary Elizabeth Knowles; her husband, William James Eichelberger; her siblings, Katie, Willie Bell, Estelle, Nannie, Mary Francis, Ida Bea, Inez, Bob, and Talmadge Hughes; five children, Claudell Weaver, Samuel, Joseph, Isaac, and Annie Lee Eichelberger; grandchildren, Charles Clifton, Jr., and Charlotte Rene Jones
Mrs. Eichelberger leaves to cherish her memories: three sons, Paul (Rita), Clifford (Nancy) Eichelberger of Louisville, MS, and Clifton (Georgia) Eichelberger of Baton Rouge, LA; six daughters, Elmetra (Eddie) Patterson-Littleton, Janice (Tommy) Hopkins, Barbara Coleman, Gwendolyn and Lorenda Eichelberger of Louisville, MS, and Mattie (Melvin) Davis of Richmond, CA; five step-daughters, Marcella Hubbard, Ollie Walker of Oakland, Aurelia Eichelberger of San Francisco, CA, Ina Davis of Alameda, CA, Ruth Brown of Richmond, CA. She leaves (20) grandchildren, (27) great grandchildren, (7) great great grandchildren; a surrogate daughter, Rev. Lorene Guyse, caregiver for 11 years Wendy Harris (Cornelius), special friend, Billy (Sue) Shields.
The family wishes to acknowledge, with sincere appreciation the many comforting messages, prayers and all other expressions of kindness during the illness and death of our loved one. Special thanks to Dr. Samuel Suttle, Sta Home Hospice Staff and Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church.