Patricia Ann Braxton

Patricia “Pat” Ann Braxton of North Chesterfield, VA passed peacefully in her sleep at home with family on September 5, 2021. She was born on December 28, 1939 in Beckley, WV to the late Mason and Virginia Powell. Patricia was the second youngest of her parents’ six children.

Pat gave her life to the Lord at a young age at the Church of the Living God where her mother was the Pastor there for more than 35 years and her Grandfather was the Lead Deacon for 40 years. Founded 86 years ago it is the second oldest church in the East Park section of Beckley, WV.

Pat graduated from Stratton High School in Beckley, WV. Stratton was established in 1918 over three centuries after the first Black enslaved people arrived in Virginia in 1619. In 1938, a two-story brick building with a gymnasium and auditorium was constructed. Considered the most up-to-date Black high school in the state, it operated until 1967, when its students were integrated into the all-White Woodrow Wilson High School. Pat loved attending her high school reunions every 10 years. After high school she attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL. She received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Spanish.

Pat had a passion for teaching. She taught in Springfield, IL, Cedar Rapids, IA and Richmond, VA. She was nominated for the Teacher of the Year award two years in a row as well as being nominated for the REB Award for Teachers of Excellence and National Who’s Who of Elementary Teachers in 1995. She was a teacher trainer as part of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Center for Community of Caring. Patricia travelled the county training other teachers on using the Community of Caring Values. She taught elementary school for over 40 years and continued to substitute in the Richmond (Virginia) City Public Schools until her retirement. She loved teaching and kept in contact with many of her students after retirement.

Some of her hobbies included reading, creating beautiful floral arrangements and spending time with her family. In 2013, Pat wrote a book, “A Parent’s Guide to a Peaceful Home: Transformation Begins at Home” (published by Trafford Publishing). It was a guide to readers in managing their home in a peaceful, loving way in order to ensure success for their children at home and at school.

In addition to her parents, Patricia was preceded in death by her high school sweetheart who became her husband, Kenneth Jerome Braxton. She was also preceded in passing by her sisters, Norma “Marie” Cain and Irene Wilkes. Pat is survived by her daughter, Kimberly Braxton-Brower and son-in-law Eric Brower. She found joy in her grandchildren: Korey Brower, Asia Rosemont-Brower, Stephanee Brower and Paris Brower; and her great-granddaughter, Hunter K. Brower. She also leaves to cherish her memory her sisters, Loretta Saxton, Clara Wilson of Beckley, WV, & Vona Mason Powell of Huntington, WV; and many other family members including a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Summer of 2022. Patricia’s remains will be interred at Blue Ridge Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens in Beckley, WV.

The family thanks everyone for the beautiful cards, flowers, gifts of food, prayers and their kind words.

Everything Has Its Time.

To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born,

And a time to die;

A time to plant,

And a time to pluck what is planted;

A time to kill,

And a time to heal;

A time to break down,

And a time to build up;

A time to weep,

And a time to laugh;

A time to mourn,

And a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones,

And a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace,

And a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to gain,

And a time to lose;

A time to keep,

And a time to throw away;

A time to tear,

And a time to sew;

A time to keep silence,

And a time to speak;

A time to love,

And a time to hate;

A time of war,

And a time of peace.

~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NKJV)

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.virginiacremate.com/locations for the Braxton family.