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July 22, 1946 – July 11, 2024

WOODVILLE – Funeral services for Patricia Kelley Catchings of Highlands, NC, will be held on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Woodville with burial to follow in Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will precede the services beginning at 10 a.m.

She was born in El Dorado, AR, on July 22, 1946, to Marguerite Smith Kelley and Jake Douglas Kelley, and passed away July 11, 2024. Reared mostly in Mississippi, most happily at her grandparents’ farm near Duncan, she attended Delta State University and later the University of Houston where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education. Later she earned a Master of Education degree at Mississippi College. Her career in education began with teaching Head Start in 1969, in Houston and continued as a kindergarten teacher with the Independent School District in Conroe, TX. After earning a degree in guidance and counseling in 1990, she worked as a counselor at Trinity Episcopal Day School in Natchez, and later at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC, and Highlands School in Highlands, NC.

Patricia moved to Natchez in 1974 with her late husband, Charles Evans Catchings, III, and two young sons. She worked in the Woodlands accounting department at International Paper Company and later became a tour guide for Natchez Pilgrimage Tours. She served as president of the Natchez Junior Auxiliary and later as regional director for the American Heart Association Chapters in South Mississippi. In North Carolina, Patricia was a licensed foster parent and, at various times, volunteered with Hospice, the Food Pantry and as a Hudson Library Trustee. For four years she was chairman of the “Bookworm,” a used book store, the proceeds of which went to support the Hudson Library.

Patricia was a lifelong proponent of historic preservation, co-owning and laboring on a number of historic property restorations. She worked part time for a total of 20 years at the Historic Natchez Foundation, when it first opened an office and later after her retirement from school counseling.

An active member of the Episcopal Church since 1982, Patricia served on the vestry three times, as an Episcopal Church Women officer, Episcopal Youth Community leader, church treasurer and usher. She served on two rector discernment committees and as a member of the Outreach committee. Upon retirement in 2006, Patricia spent three months as a volunteer at Camp Coast Care in Long Beach, a joint mission of the Episcopal and Lutheran churches, to help with the recovery of the Gulf Coast after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. She completed a four-year Education for Ministry program from The University of the South Theological Seminary in 2008 and an additional three years in 2023.

Reading was her primary hobby but travel was a great joy. She visited all 50 states and 30 foreign countries.

Patricia was preceded in death by her husband of thirty years, Charles Evans Catchings, III, and her sister, Debra Kelley Wilson.

She is survived by her brother, William Randolph Kelley (Ruth) of Tulsa, OK; beloved sons, Nicholas Senn Catchings, II (Camille) of Park City, UT, and Charles Evans Catchings, IV (Elizabeth) of Katy, TX; her adored grandchildren, Chancey Tanner Catchings, Caroline Hampton Catchings, Avary Elizabeth Catchings and Madison Olivia Catchings.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to her Episcopal church, The Church of the Incarnation, P. O. Box 729, Highlands, NC 28741 or https://incarnationwnc.org/giving/make-a-gift/.