Pat was born in Chattanooga TN, and grew up in nearby Chattanooga Valley, just inside the Georgia line. He played in the Chattanooga High School band and sang in school chorus (and the GA HS All-State chorus 4 years). In his junior year, he was awarded a music position in the very first Governor’s Honors Program. (While at “GHP” he was fortunate enough to study conducting with Robert Shaw.) He received a BS in Music Ed from Jacksonville State University, a MM in Music Education and Performance from Vandercook College of Music in Chicago, and an Ed S in Administration and Supervision from Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN.
Pat has been married to Priscilla (Prissy) for 46 years. They have two daughters, Alyson (husband Tyler Peck), and Lauren (husband Will Mann), both of whom grew up here at Varnell United Methodist Church (VUMC). Pat and Prissy now have eight grandchildren, a grandson-in law, and two great grandsons.
Pat spent 40 years in public school schools as an educator, administrator, and elected school board member. He directed bands and choral programs at both the middle and high school levels and was the first band director at Northwest Whitfield HS when it opened in 1975.
In that same year (1975), Pat came to VUMC, after serving as Music Director at Chattanooga Valley Presbyterian Church (3 yrs), Post Chapel (Ft. McClellan AL, 3 yrs), and Mt Rachel Baptist (1 yr). Pat has been at VUMC since that time, other than a 5-year detour to serve as Minister of Music at Battlefield Parkway Church of the Nazarene. In all, Pat has served in music ministry for 48 years, with 36 of those being at Varnell United Methodist Church.
“Varnell is home and always will be. It is where I was serving when I was ordained as a minister by the Fellowship of New Testament Ministries. It is where God has blessed our church with talented members so that I have been able to lead a vibrant adult choir ministry. It is where Prissy and I raised our children, taught Sunday School, worked in VBS, led Bible studies, and have been involved with church men’s and women’s groups. It is where I (we) have led music in revivals, worked and led youth programs and choirs; and led instrumental ensembles and praise teams. Serving God at VUMC has been the foundation of our adult lives as a couple, as we have intertwined with all the wonderful folks we love and have met in this house of faith.”