A Homegoing Celebration will take place in the chapel of Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home. 318 North Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457 on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 11am. A public viewing will start at 9am. Burial will follow in the St. Matthew Baptist Church in Creston La.

OBITUARY

OF

MISSIONARY EVELYN PATTERSON NASH

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help!

My help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

God smiled and gifted the late Dewitt Patterson and Frances Coleman Patterson with an energetic baby girl, Evelyn Patterson on July 29, 1929.  This delightful infant was blessed with a long and service-filled life and answered the Master's final call December 31, 2023 surrounded by family at the home of her only child, Leo Nash, Jr., in Ennis, TX.  The Almighty Creator of the universe said, Well Done"!

Christian precepts and examples taught in her parents' home formed the basis of her religious training.  This nurturing atmosphere led to her praying fervently for conversion to Christianity, being water baptized and uniting with the St. Matthew Baptist Church in the Creston, LA community of Natchitoches Parish.  Missionary Nash's Christian walk led her to higher heights in the Lord which included her receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost, becoming an active servant in the Church of God in Christ and, ultimately, being elevated to the post of Missionary in her Savior's work on earth!  At the time that she exchanged time for eternity, this dedicated Christian lady was a part of the fellowship at the East Side Church of God in Christ in Natchitoches, LA under the spiritual leadership of Elder Roland Lynch and, in Texas, she worshipped with the Zion Chapel Church of God in Christ.

Education was another integral part of this memorable lady's life.  She was educated initially in the public schools of Natchitoches Parish and, upon completing high school requirements, she ventured on to Grambling College (now Grambling State University) where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Education.  So enthusiastic about formal preparation that she studied earnestly until Northwestern State University bestowed upon her the Master's Degree in Education.  She utilized these years of being taught so that she could better mold and influence the lives of her many students who remember as a Master Teacher in the classroom.

Additionally, Missionary Nash was concerned about the physical clothing of citizens with whom she came in contact.  This outreach blossomed into her successfully operating an affordable clothing business located in the heart of downtown Natchitoches, LA at a time when there were very few Blacks and/or Black women who were stable entrepreneurs.

Preceding in her in death were her parents, Dewitt and Frances Patterson, three brothers:  Johnny Patterson, Layfield Patterson and Curtis Patterson.

Her spirit and legacy will live on in those who survive her including her son, Leo Nash, Jr. and his wife, Willie Mae, of Ennis, TX; four grandchildren: Nikki Nash of Dallas, TX,  Malitha Murphy of Ennis, TX, Daisy Nash of Dallas, TX and Leo Nash, III (Bonnie) of Chicago, IL;  siblings:  Ethel Howard of Dallas, TX and Jerry Patterson of Houston, TX; her church families, the many students whose lives she touched and an untold number of other relatives and friends.